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

Elisabeth Wurm

doi:10.1111/coep.12706

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

Elisabeth Wurm^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Economics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	253-274
Number of pages	22
Journal	Contemporary Economic Policy
Volume	44
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.12706
State	Published - Apr 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 1 No Poverty
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Keywords

health insurance
labor supply
policy analysis
same-sex couples
spousal insurance coverage

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10.1111/coep.12706License: CC BY-NC

Wurm-Elisabeth1_2025Publisher version, 510 KBLicense: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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abstract = "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.",

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

Abstract (may include machine translation)

UN SDGs

Keywords

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