Bonus Options In Health Insurance (developments In Health Economics And Public Policy)

Confronted with the continuing cost expansion in the health care sector, policy makers face a dilemma: limiting moral hazard in medical care requires that consumers participate in the cost, yet copayment is strongly resisted by today's socially insured. Thus, the experiences of three private German health insurers will be of interest to physicians, social scientists, and policy makers. Insurer A writes conventional plans with deductibles and coinsurance; B pays back three-monthly premiums as a fixed rebate for no claims; while C runs an experience-rated bonus system starting with a rebate of three-monthly premiums for the first year without a claim, reaching a maximum of five after three years. While both rebates and bonuses are quite popular among insureds, this study shows that bonus options are particularly effective in limiting the demand for ambulatory and even hospital care. But what about adverse effects on health caused by the desire to save one's bonus? On this issue, there is some surprising evidence. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Overview and key statements of the study....Pages 1-7 Institutional framework, issues, and results....Pages 8-16 Health insurance options from the point of view of the consumer....Pages 17-24 Insurer A: Traditional cost sharing....Pages 25-41 Insurer B: Fixed rebates for no claims....Pages 42-63 Self-selection of risks with insurers A and B?....Pages 64-69 Insurer C: The dynamic bonus system....Pages 70-78 First-dollar coverage, fixed rebate, and dynamic bonus compared....Pages 79-103 Bonus options in social health insurance?....Pages 104-111 Back Matter....Pages 112-143