The Relationship between Employer-Paid Health Insurance and Job-Change Among People with Disabilities

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Objective: This research investigates the role of employer-paid health insurance (EHI) in reducing job-change probabilities among workers with disabilities. Methods: With an analytical sample of 42,158, this analysis utilizes multiple panels of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey spanning the years 2004 through 2009. Findings: Overall, workers without EHI are 2.9 times more likely to change jobs than those with EHI and workers with disabilities are 1.4 times more likely to change jobs compared to their counterparts. The EHI and disability status interact synergistically; employees with disabilities without EHI are 4 times more likely to change jobs than their peers without disabilities who receive EHI. Compared to this, workers without disabilities who do not receive EHI are 3.5 times more likely to change jobs than their peers who receive EHI. Conclusion: These findings have implications for employers as they consider changes to their benefit packages with full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, especially concerning its impact on tenure of workers seasoned workers with disabilities.