The demand for long-term care (LTC) is growing in most OECD countries (OECD, 2017). LTC can be provided by formal and informal caregivers, and striking the right balance between both types of care is a challenge. In this Netspar Survey Paper we first analyze from an economic perspective the trade-offs involved in this balancing act, by a review of the relevant economic literature. Next, we focus on one particular aspect of this trade-off: the negative health effects of providing informal care. We systematically review the growing number of empirical studies that aim to identify the causal effects of providing informal care on caregivers’ health.