Using data from the 1998 Wave of the Health and Retirement Study, we examine the effect of social interactions on the … health insurance choices of the elderly. We find that having more social interactions, as measured by contacts with friends … the health insurance choices of the elderly and provide suggestive evidence that "word-of-mouth" information sharing may …

We have found modest effects of widowhood events on loss of health insurance. There are also modest effects of …, however, are not random with respect to initial conditions. Both initial health insurance status and risk of future widowhood … appears small is that there are events within marriage that can also affect insurance coverage, such as retirement or health …

We analyze newly available data from the Health and Retirement Study on senior citizens' take-up of Medicare Part D and …

drugs, use of other medical services, and health for a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Given the … health. We find that gaining prescription drug insurance through Medicare Part D was associated with a 70% increase in the … health care services or health, as measured by functional status and self-reported health. Among those in poorer health, we …