Postdoctoral Researcher
Center for Insurance Policy and Research
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Ph.D., Economics, University of Notre Dame, 2025
Research Fields
Health Economics, Health Policy
Working Papers
“Medicare’s Home Health Benefits and Elderly Living Arrangements” [Job Market Paper]
Abstract: This paper examines how access to Medicare's home health benefits affects home health care utilization and the likelihood of co-residence among older adults. Using a regression discontinuity design (RDD) that exploits the sharp eligibility threshold at age 65, I find that Medicare eligibility leads to an 11-percentage-point increase in home health care utilization among less healthy, single older adults, with no statistically significant effects for healthier or married individuals. I also find racial heterogeneity in the effect of home health care utilization on co-residence: among less healthy, single Black older adults, the increase in home health care utilization reduces co-residence by 3 percentage points, while no statistically significant changes are observed among other racial groups. Additionally, these effects are concentrated in the second quartile of the income distribution, where prior insurance coverage is less likely. These findings suggest that public transfers expanding access to affordable home health care can play a significant role in shaping care utilization patterns and living arrangements among vulnerable older adults, specifically those facing health, income, or social disadvantages.
“Price Elasticity with Non-linear Contract: Evidence from the RAND Health Insurance Experiment”
“Intra-Household Dynamics of Non-communicable Diseases”
Work In Progress
“Impacts of Prior Authorization, Step Therapy, and Formulary Exclusion on Medication Adherence in Specialty Drug Populations”
“Decision Support in Health Insurance Shopping: Effects of Plan Comparison Table and Scenario-Based Cost Illustrations” with Brenda Rourke and Kelly Edmiston
“Theory of Planned Behavior Predictors of Policyholder Responses to Premium Increases in Long-Term Care Insurance” with Florent Nkouaga, Brenda Rourke, and Dorothy Andrews
Other Writing
Edmiston, Kelly, Anqi Chen, and Gayle Brekke. 2025. Trends, Challenges, and Options in Small Group Health Insurance. Kansas City, MO: National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Teaching
TA, Principles of Microeconomics (Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022)
TA, Game Theory and Strategic Analysis (Spring 2023, Spring 2024)
TA, Econometrics (Fall 2023)
TA, Money, Banking, and Mortgage Markets (Fall 2024)