Associate professor of health care policy Nicole Maestas, PhD, has been elected to the National Academy of Social Insurance. Maestas joins 45 others newly elected to the Academy, including Amitabh Chandra, PhD, Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, David Laibson, PhD, Robert I. Goldman Professor of Economics at Harvard University, Anne Case, PhD, Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Emeritus at Princeton University, and Noble-winner Angus Deaton, PhD, Senior Scholar and Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Economics and International Affairs Emeritus at Princeton University.

The National Academy of Social Insurance works towards solutions to national challenges by increasing the publics’ understanding of social insurance and how it contributes to economic security. They work in policy areas such as paid leave and long-term service and established programs such as Social Security and Medicaid and Medicare. Members elected to the Academy have been chosen for their high-quality research, administration, or policymaking in related areas of social research. Their work with the Academy will make noteworthy contributions to research, education, and leadership development initiatives.

Maestas’ research investigates how health and disability insurance systems affect individual economic behavior. Her work in disability insurance has shown that federal disability benefits discourage employment among people with disabilities. Her health insurance research includes studies of the effects of Medicare eligibility on the use of health care services. This research has shown that Medicare can narrow disparities in access to care, but widen disparities in elective care. She is currently investigating the effects of privatization of Medicaid benefits on health care for people with disabilities. Maestas serves as the Director of the Retirement and Disability Research Center at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and has testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

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