Health insurance subsidies and deductible choice: Evidence from regional variation in subsidy schemes.
J Health Econ
; 55: 262-273, 2017 09.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28807331
ABSTRACT
The extent to which premium subsidies can influence health insurance choices is an open question. In this paper, we explore the regional variation in subsidy schemes in Switzerland, designed as either in-kind or cash transfers, to study their impact on the choice of health insurance deductibles. Using health survey data and a difference-in-differences methodology, we find that in-kind transfers increase the likelihood of choosing a low deductible plan by approximately 4 percentage points (or 7%). Our results indicate that the response to in-kind transfers is strongest among women, middle-aged and unmarried individuals, which we explain by differences in risk-taking behavior, health status, financial constraints, health insurance and financial literacy. We discuss our results in the light of potential extra-marginal effects on the demand for health care services, which are however not supported by our data.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Choice Behavior
/
Consumer Behavior
/
Deductibles and Coinsurance
/
Insurance, Health
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
J Health Econ
Journal subject:
HOSPITAIS
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article