Risk equalisation and voluntary health insurance markets: The case of Ireland

Health Policy
John Armstrong

Abstract

Ireland has a system of private health insurance (PHI) which acts as a voluntary alternative to the benefits provided under the Irish public health system. As part of this, community rating has long been a cornerstone of the Irish private health insurance market with the objective to make PHI affordable to everyone regardless of their risk profile. Until the mid-1990s one insurer had a legal monopoly. However, in 1996, following the Third Non-Life Insurance Directive, the market was opened up to competition and a number of regulations were introduced to support community rating. This includes the introduction of a risk equalisation system. Its aim was to prevent selection and thus protect the community rating system while still enabling a competitive health insurance market. There have been significant obstacles to the introduction of risk equalisation due to political, legal and implementation issues. The objective of this paper is to review the history, structure and likely effectiveness of risk equalisation in Ireland. The paper provides lessons for other countries with risk equalisation systems or seeking to introduce such a system. Amongst other conclusions, it outlines the difficulties in introducing risk equalisation.

References

Jun 24, 2003·Health Policy·Florian Buchner, Jürgen Wasem
Jun 24, 2003·Health Policy·Konstantin BeckLucien Gardiol
Jul 19, 2008·Health Economics, Policy, and Law·Francesco PaolucciWynand P M M Van de Ven
Jul 27, 2010·Health Policy·John ArmstrongWynand P M M van de Ven

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 24, 2011·Health Economics, Policy, and Law·Wynand P M M Van de Ven
Jul 20, 2010·Health Policy·Luke B ConnellyPaul Collins
Jul 27, 2010·Health Policy·John ArmstrongWynand P M M van de Ven
Apr 24, 2014·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Lucas J Mix, Joanna Masel
Sep 12, 2015·The European Journal of Health Economics : HEPAC : Health Economics in Prevention and Care·Conor KeeganSteve Thomas
May 10, 2016·Health Policy·Christian P R Schmid, Konstantin Beck
Aug 2, 2011·Journal of the American Dietetic Association·Bradley M AppelhansSherry L Pagoto
May 12, 2018·International Journal of Health Economics and Management·Conor KeeganSteve Thomas
Oct 10, 2018·Qualitative Health Research·Cheryl PritloveJanet Parsons
May 12, 2015·Israel Journal of Health Policy Research·Tzahit Simon-TuvalGiora Kaplan
Jun 28, 2011·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Robert J AtterburyR Elizabeth Sockett

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.