Graduation Year
2026
Date of Defense
4-18-2026
Degree Name
Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)
Department
Charles F. Dolan School of Business
Document Type
Dissertation
First Advisor
Mousumi Bhattacharya
Abstract
CRISPR-based gene therapies represent a significant advancement in modern medicine, offering the potential to treat or cure genetic conditions that were previously considered untreatable. However, the high cost of these therapies raises important questions regarding affordability, insurance coverage, and public support. This study examines willingness to pay (WTP) for insurance coverage of CRISPR-based gene therapies in the United States and identifies the factors that influence this valuation.
Using a contingent valuation survey grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study examines how treatment effectiveness, side effects, cost, demographic characteristics, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control shape support for insurance coverage of CRISPR-based gene therapies. Data were collected from a nationwide sample and analyzed using logistic regression models. The results show that support for CRISPR-based insurance coverage declines as the proposed annual insurance cost increases.
Median WTP is estimated at approximately $3,921 per year under the preferred Model 3A baseline specification and $1,056 per year under the preferred Model 3B certainty adjusted specification. These estimates represent the additional annual insurance cost at which approximately 50% of respondents support the policy. Higher institutional trust, more favorable attitudes toward CRISPR, stronger perceived treatment effectiveness, lower risk aversion, higher income, and African American respondent status are associated with greater support for coverage, while higher proposed annual insurance costs reduce support.
This study contributes to the literature by integrating behavioral theory with economic valuation in the context of emerging medical technologies. The findings provide practical insights for policymakers, insurers, and healthcare stakeholders seeking to balance innovation, affordability, and equitable access as CRISPR-based therapies become more widely available.