Risk equalisation in voluntary health insurance markets: A three country comparison

Health Policy
John ArmstrongWynand Van de Ven

Abstract

The paper summarises the conclusions for health policy from the experience of three countries who have introduced risk equalisation subsidies, in their voluntary health insurance (VHI) markets. The countries chosen are Australia, Ireland and South Africa. All of these countries have developed VHI markets and have progressed towards introducing risk equalisation. The objective of such subsidies is primarily to make VHI affordable while encouraging efficiency in health care production. The paper presents a conceptual framework to understand and compare risk equalisation subsidies in VHI markets. The paper outlines how such subsidies are organised in each of the countries and identifies problems that arise in their implementation. We conclude that the objectives of risk equalisation, in VHI markets are no different to those in countries with mandatory insurance systems. We find that the introduction of risk equalisation subsidies is complex and that countries seeking to introduce risk equalisation in VHI markets must carefully consider how such subsidies advance their overall health policy goals. Furthermore, we conclude that such subsidies must be structured correctly as otherwise incentives exist for risk selection which may thr...Continue Reading

References

Feb 3, 2007·Health Policy·Wynand P M M van de VenIrit Zmora
Jan 8, 2008·Journal of Health Economics·R C van KleefR C J A van Vliet
May 14, 2008·Health Affairs·Wynand P M M van de Ven, Frederik T Schut
Dec 30, 2008·Journal of Health Economics·Erik Schokkaert, Carine Van de Voorde
Jul 20, 2010·Health Policy·Luke B ConnellyPaul Collins

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Citations

Feb 24, 2011·Health Economics, Policy, and Law·Wynand P M M Van de Ven
Jul 27, 2010·Health Policy·John ArmstrongWynand P M M van de Ven
Oct 10, 2014·Nigerian Medical Journal : Journal of the Nigeria Medical Association·Princess Christina CampbellFeziechukwu Collins Nnaji
Apr 26, 2017·Applied Health Economics and Health Policy·Ayman FoudaFrancesco Paolucci

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