MARITAL-STATUS, SPOUSAL COVERAGE, AND THE GENDER-GAP IN EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH-INSURANCE

Not only do men who work full time earn more than women, but they are more likely to receive employer-sponsored health benefits. This paper provides evidence on the gender gap in employer-sponsored health insur ance. The results indicate that the gap is driven largely by the tende ncy of married women to decline employer-sponsored insurance in favor of being covered through their husbands. Indeed, among single workers, women are more likely than men to be offered insurance. These finding s call into question the conclusion made by previous researchers that employers discriminate against women in the provision of health insura nce.