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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

health insurance, market inefficiencies, teen mothers, children

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Economics

Abstract

I was awarded an ORCA grant to research the unique health insurance market that the children of teen mothers face. I became concerned that these children may not have equal access to private insurance coverage and as a result were at risk of being uninsured or over-enrolling in public insurance programs such as Medicaid. The majority of these children are living in three-generation households where their grandparents are the primary financial provider for the household members. In many instances, but not all, insurance companies will not permit dependent grandchildren to be added to the grandparent’s health insurance plan, especially if the mother still holds primary custody. Switching custody is a significant ordeal and would likely only occur if the mother was not part of the home anyway. To analyze this issue specifically I narrowed my focus to children who are living in homes with their dependent teen mother and her parents, who are providing support for the teen mother and child.

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