Research Symposium

BIO

Madelyn Vido is a first-year student at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance, with plans to explore risk management and insurance as well as actuarial science. Her research focuses on health and dental insurance purchasing behavior on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace during and after major catastrophic events. Through this work, she examines how disasters influence coverage decisions and access to insurance.
Madelyn’s involvement in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) sparked her interest in the insurance field and deepened her curiosity about how risk is measured and managed. This experience has strengthened her interest in learning more about the field and ultimately in pursuing a career in actuarial science.

The Impact of Catastrophes on Health and Dental Insurance Enrollment

Abstract

Natural disasters and major catastrophes can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial strain on individuals and communities. These events often disrupt access to healthcare while increasing medical needs, making health and dental insurance an important form of protection. Despite this, limited research has examined how catastrophic events influence individuals’ decisions to obtain insurance coverage. This research examines the impact of major catastrophes on health and dental insurance enrollment in the United States, focusing on how large-scale disasters shape decisions to seek coverage. Enrollment and demographic data were obtained directly from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace and therefore reflect only states participating in this database. Catastrophe data including disaster type, economic loss, total injuries, and fatalities from 2018 to 2025 were obtained from the Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database (SHELDUS). The data were organized in Excel and analyzed using STATA-18 SE, where datasets were coded, merged, and statistically examined to compare enrollment patterns before and after major disaster events. The analysis revealed that health insurance enrollment increased by approximately 16.05%, while dental insurance enrollment increased by about 3.64% following major catastrophes. These increases suggest that individuals may become more aware of health and financial vulnerabilities after disasters and are more likely to seek insurance coverage as a form of protection. Overall, these findings indicate that catastrophic events shape public perceptions of risk and preparedness, influencing long-term healthcare decisions. This research highlights the importance of policies and outreach efforts that improve access to coverage in disaster-affected communities.

Keywords: insurance, health, dental, catastrophes