Health insurance and labor supply: Evidence from same-sex couples

This paper examines labor supply effects of policies allowing public sector workers to include same-sex partners in employer-sponsored insurance plans. Unlike broader partnership recognition rights, these policies focus narrowly on insurance access. I find gendered labor supply responses: women in same-sex couples reduce their labor supply when gaining insurance access (−3.3pp), while men's labor supply remains unchanged. The effects are roughly half the size of those seen with broader partnership rights but follow the same gendered pattern. Lower household income and health conditions amplify labor supply responses; child care does not seem to be a key factor.