Do premium tax credits increase private health insurance coverage? Evidence from the 2006 Massachusetts health care reform

•First study to examine effects of premium tax credits in Massachusetts.•Premium tax credits appear increase private health insurance.•Regression discontinuity could be useful to similar tax credits in the ACA.

I use the Current Population Survey March Supplement and a regression discontinuity design to demonstrate a positive impact of premium tax credits, implemented as a part of the 2006 health reform in Massachusetts, on non-group private health insurance coverage.