EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM OF POPULAR INSURANCE FROM 2002 TO 2005 Impact in the utilization of medical services, in spending and health and in the labor market

This article examines the impact of Seguro Popular (SP) in health services utilization, in the labor market, and in household health expenditures. Benefiting from longitudinal data from the Mexican Family Life Survey, we use propensity score matching techniques to analyze the data by gender and population origin. In general, the SP has not impacted the number of hospitalizations and out-patient consultations, with the exception of urban women. The analysis by institution shows that, in urban populations, the SP has increased external consultations in the health care facilities provided by the Health Ministry. The SP shows a negative impact in the Mexican Institute of Social Security coverage, and in the formal employment of urban women and rural men. At the household level, we do not find any effect on household health expenditures.