Paul is currently unemployed and without health insurance coverage. Paul presently makes about $40,000 of interest income per year. He realizes that there is about a 5 percent probability that he may suffer a heart attack. The cost of treatment will be about $20,000 if a heart attack occurs.
- Calculate Paul's expected income without any insurance coverage.
- Suppose now that the government passes a law that allows all people not just the self-employed or employed to have their entire insurance premium exempted from taxes. Tax rate is equal to 40%. Would he buy health insurance? Why or why not? What implications can be drawn from the analysis?