The Impact of Social Health Insurance on Diabetes Outcomes in Older Adults: An Instrumental Variables Repeated Cross Section Evaluation in Mexico

Maricruz Rivera-Hernandez, Brown University
Vincent Mor, Brown University
Omar Galarraga, Brown University

In 2012 in Mexico, there were about 10.6 million cases of diabetes (IDF, 2013), and about 6.2 million adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, which corresponds to about 9.2% of the population (ENSANUT, 2012). Seguro Popular [People’s Health Insurance] was introduced in 2001 to provide insurance to those in need. Repeated cross-sectional data from the ENSANUT 2000, 2005-2006 and 2012 surveys were used to assess the effect of Seguro Popular on diabetes treatment, blood glucose tests, use of complementary alternative medicine and performing other self-management activities such as exercise and diet. Initial probit models suggest that enrollment in Seguro Popular increases the probability of performing any kind of blood tests. However, the positive effects of Seguro Popular banished when instrumental variables are introduced into the models. This finding may be consistent with prior literature that suggests that having health insurance does not necessarily improve health care behaviors.