Expanding Health Insurance to Millions
2014
This case study describes a health policy “experiment” in Oregon that demonstrated how health insurance access influenced the health and well-being of a poor population. It follows the effects of a state lottery designed to give all poor, uninsured Oregonians a fair chance at receiving health insurance. The case also describes the efforts of two renowned economists who saw in this experiment a unique opportunity to capture rigorous comparison evidence that proved useful to policy makers. The case can help students learn to connect observational studies with policy implications.
The case is part of a series produced by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Case Program, hosted by the HKS Strengthening Learning and Teaching Excellence (SLATE) initiative, the world’s largest producer and repository of case studies designed for teaching about how government works and how public policy is made. Each case in the series is designed to train public leaders, and introduces actual policy dilemmas along with data to equip students to learn how to apply the rigor of quantitative analysis in the real world.
This case may be purchased for a nominal fee; registered educators may obtain a free review copy. Online supplemental resources include short free documents and videos on how to teach with the case method, as well as downloadable related tip sheets and questions for class discussion.
Expanding Health Insurance to Millions
Source:
Datla A, Myers E. Expanding Health Insurance to Millions: Learning From the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment. HKS Case No. 2019.0. Harvard Kennedy School Case Program 2014. http://case.hks.harvard.edu/expanding-health-insurance-to-millions-learning-from-the-oregon-health-insurance-experiment.