BORROWING TO COPE WITH ADVERSE HEALTH EVENTS: LIQUIDITY CONSTRAINTS, INSURANCE COVERAGE, AND UNSECURED DEBT
利用1998-2010年健康与退休研究数据，发现低金融资产、无保险或保险不足的家庭在遭遇健康冲击后，无担保债务的概率和金额均上升，且债务影响持续较久。
This article uses data from the Health and Retirement Study for 1998-2010 to investigate whether households respond to the financial stress caused by health problems by increasing their unsecured debt. Results show both the probability of having unsecured debt and the amount of debt increase after an adverse health event among households with low financial assets, who are uninsured, or who have less generous health insurance. The effect of health problems on borrowing is caused by both medical expenditures and disruptions to the income stream. Unsecured debt seems to remain on some households' balance sheets for an extended period.