The Oregon Health Insurance Experiment: Evidence from the First Year

Posted July 2011

Amy Finkelstein, MIT and NBER; Sarah Taubman, NBER;, Bill Wright, CORE; Mira Bernstein, NBER; Jonathan Gruber, MIT and NBER; Joseph P. Newhouse, Harvard and NBER; Heidi Allen, CORE; Katherine Baicker, Harvard and NBER; and the Oregon Health Study Group

This study represents the first use of a randomized controlled design to evaluate the impact of insuring the uninsured in the United States. Although randomized controlled trials are the gold standard in medical and scientific studies, they are rarely possible in social policy research. In 2008, the state of Oregon drew names by lottery for its Medicaid program for low income, uninsured adults. About a year after random assignment, the results indicate that enrollment in Medicaid substantially increases health care use, reduces financial strain, and improves self-reported health and well-being.

More details are available in our Overview PDF; click here to download.

You may view the entire paper on the NBER site.