Health Insurance Enrollment Trends in the US - Implications from the NLSY

This study analyzes long-term trends in health insurance enrollment using panel survey data from NLSY79 and NLSY97 conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The analysis reveals that health insurance enrollment rates have declined among the NLSY97 generation compared to the NLSY79 generation, and that changes in uninsured periods correlate with educational attainment. Higher education levels are associated with reduced uninsured periods, suggesting disparities in health insurance access by education level. This research leverages panel survey characteristics to reveal dynamic changes in health insurance enrollment that are difficult to capture through traditional cross-sectional surveys.