scholarly journals John Nyman and the Economics of Health Care Moral Hazard

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sander Kelman ◽  
Albert Woodward

In 2003, John Nyman published The Theory of Demand for Health Insurance. His principal contributions are (1) to replace the previously unexamined axiom of risk avoidance with the axiom of welfare maximization; (2) to uncover a misinterpretation in the literature on moral hazard, namely, the insurance payoff as a price reduction, rather than as an income transfer. The immediate consequence of these reformulations is to recognize insurance-induced health care utilization as resulting in an increase in social welfare. Despite its evident validity and enormous implications, Nyman’s work has received very little attention or recognition in the health economics literature.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 238146831878109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary C. Politi ◽  
Enbal Shacham ◽  
Abigail R. Barker ◽  
Nerissa George ◽  
Nageen Mir ◽  
...  

Objective. Numerous electronic tools help consumers select health insurance plans based on their estimated health care utilization. However, the best way to personalize these tools is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare two common methods of personalizing health insurance plan displays: 1) quantitative healthcare utilization predictions using nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and 2) subjective-health status predictions. We also explored their relations to self-reported health care utilization. Methods. Secondary data analysis was conducted with responses from 327 adults under age 65 considering health insurance enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Participants were asked to report their subjective health, health conditions, and demographic information. MEPS data were used to estimate predicted annual expenditures based on age, gender, and reported health conditions. Self-reported health care utilization was obtained for 120 participants at a 1-year follow-up. Results. MEPS-based predictions and subjective-health status were related ( P < 0.0001). However, MEPS-predicted ranges within subjective-health categories were large. Subjective health was a less reliable predictor of expenses among older adults (age × subjective health, P = 0.04). Neither significantly related to subsequent self-reported health care utilization ( P = 0.18, P = 0.92, respectively). Conclusions. Because MEPS data are nationally representative, they may approximate utilization better than subjective health, particularly among older adults. However, approximating health care utilization is difficult, especially among newly insured. Findings have implications for health insurance decision support tools that personalize plan displays based on cost estimates.


2003 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 1740-1747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline W. Lucas ◽  
Daheia J. Barr-Anderson ◽  
Raynard S. Kington

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 105 (Supplement_E1) ◽  
pp. 728-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Zwanziger ◽  
Dana B. Mukamel ◽  
Peter G. Szilagyi ◽  
Sarah Trafton ◽  
Andrew W. Dick ◽  
...  

Background. In response to the increase in the number of American children without health insurance, new federal and state programs have been established to expand health insurance coverage for children. However, the presence of insurance reduces the price of care for families participating in these programs and stimulates the use of medical services, which leads to an increase in health care costs. In this article, we identified the additional expenditures associated with the provision of health insurance to previously uninsured children. Methods. We estimated the expenditures on additional services using data from a study of children living in the Rochester, New York, area who were enrolled in the New York State Child Health Plus (CHPlus) program. CHPlus was designed specifically for low-income children without health insurance who were not eligible for Medicaid. The study sample consisted of 1910 children under the age of 6 who were initially enrolled in CHPlus between November 1, 1991 and August 1, 1993 and who had been enrolled for at least 9 continuous months. We used medical chart reviews to determine the level of primary care utilization, parent interviews for demographic information, as well as specialty care utilization, and we used claims data submitted to CHPlus for the year after enrollment to calculate health care expenditures. Using this information, we estimated a multivariate regression model to compute the average change in expenditures associated with a unit of utilization for a cross-section of service types while controlling for other factors that independently influenced total outpatient expenditures. Results. Expenditures for outpatient services were closely related to primary care utilization—more utilization tended to increase expenditures. Age and the presence of a chronic condition both affected expenditures. Children with chronic conditions and infants tended to have more visits, but these visits were, on average, less expensive. Applying the average change in expenditures to the change in utilization that resulted from the presence of insurance, we estimated that the total increase in expenditures associated with CHPlus was $71.85 per child in the year after enrollment, or a 23% increase in expenditures. The cost increase was almost entirely associated with the provision of primary care. Almost three-quarters of the increase in outpatient expenditures was associated with increased acute and well-child care visits. Conclusions. CHPlus was associated with a modest increase in expenditures, mostly from additional outpatient utilization. Because the additional primary care provided to young children often has substantial long-term benefits, the relatively modest expenditure increases associated with the provision of insurance may be viewed as an investment in the future.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (25) ◽  
pp. 4142-4149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Matei ◽  
Anna M. Miller ◽  
Patrick Monahan ◽  
David Gershenson ◽  
Qianqian Zhao ◽  
...  

Purpose This study compares late effects of treatment on physical well-being and utilization of health care resources between ovarian germ cell tumor (OGCT) survivors and age/race/education-matched controls. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had OGCT treated with surgery and chemotherapy and were disease-free for at least 2 years at time of enrollment. The matched control group was selected from acquaintances recommended by survivors. Symptoms and function were measured using previously validated scales. Health care utilization was assessed by questions regarding health insurance coverage and health services utilization. Results One hundred thirty-two survivors and 137 controls completed the study. Survivors were significantly more likely to report a diagnosis of hypertension (17% v 8%, P = .02), and marginally hypercholesterolemia (9.8% v 4.4%, P = .09), and hearing loss (5.3% v 1.5%, P = .09) compared with controls. There were no significant differences in the rates of self-reported arthritis, heart, pulmonary or kidney disease, diabetes, non-OGCT malignancies, anxiety, hearing loss, or eating disorders between groups. Among chronic functional problems, numbness, tinnitus, nausea elicited by reminders of chemotherapy (v general nausea triggers for controls), and Raynaud's symptoms were reported more frequently by survivors. Patients who received vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide in addition to cisplatin therapy had increased functional complaints, particularly numbness and nausea. Health care utilization was similar, but 15.9% of survivors reported being denied health insurance versus 4.4% of controls (P < .001). Conclusion Although a few sequelae of treatment persist, in general, OGCT survivors enjoy a healthy life comparable to that of controls.


Author(s):  
Roger Muremyi ◽  
Dominique Haughton ◽  
François Niragire ◽  
Ignace Kabano

In Rwanda, more than 90% of the population is insured for health care. Despite the comprehensiveness of health insurance coverage in Rwanda, some health services at partner institutions are not available, causing insured patients to pay unintended cost. We aimed to analyze the effect of health insurance on health care utilization and factors associated with the use of health care services in Rwanda. This is an analysis of secondary data from the Rwanda integrated living condition survey 2016-2017. The survey gathered data from 14580 households, and decision tree and multilevel logistic regression models were applied. Among 14580 households only (20%) used health services. Heads of households aged between [56-65] years (AOR=1.28, 95% CI:1.02-1.61), aged between [66-75] years (AOR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.193-1.947), aged over 76 years (AOR=1.48, 95% CI:1.137-1.947), households with health insurance (AOR=4.57, 95% CI: 3.97-5.27) displayed a significant increase in the use of health services. This study shows evidence of the effect of health insurance on health care utilization in Rwanda: a significant increase of 4.57 times greater adjusted odds of using health services compared to those not insured. The findings from our research will guide policymakers and provide useful insights within the Rwanda context as well as for other countries that are considering moving towards universal health coverage through similar models.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Hansen ◽  
Anders Anell ◽  
Ulf-G Gerdtham ◽  
Carl Hampus Lyttkens

Health care systems around the globe are facing great challenges. The demand for health care is increasing due to the continuous development of new medical technologies, changing demographics, increasing income levels, and greater expectations from patients. The possibilities and willingness to expand health care resources, however, are limited. Consequently, health care organizations are increasingly required to take economic restrictions into account, and there is an urgent need for improved efficiency. It is reasonable to ask whether the health economics field of today is prepared and equipped to help us meet these challenges. Our aim with this article is twofold: to introduce the fields of behavioral and experimental economics and to then identify and characterize health economics areas where these two fields have a promising potential. We also discuss the advantages of a pluralistic view in health economics research, and we anticipate a dynamic future for health economics.Published: Online May 2015. In print December 2015.


Author(s):  
Chhabi Ranabhat ◽  
Chun-Bae Kim ◽  
Myung-Bae Park

Background: Health insurance (HI) run by government is providing health care service to large population. Due to poor accountability, participation and sustainability, cooperative health insurance is becoming more popular and effective in low and middle income and some high-income countries too. In Nepal, there are public and cooperative HI is in practice. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of public (government) and cooperative HI in relation to benefit packages, population coverage, inclusiveness, health care utilization, and promptness for treatment in these two health insurance models in Nepal. Method: This is an institution based concurrent mixed study consists of qualitative and quantitative variables from public and cooperative groups. We included all public HI operated by government hospitals and cooperatives groups those purchased hospital service in contract. Two separate study tools were applied to access the effectiveness of insurance models. The key questions were asked for the representatives of government and private health insurance. The numeric information consisted of in quantitative data and subjective response was included in qualitative approach. Descriptive statistics and Mean Whitney U test was applied in numeric data and qualitative information were analyzed by inductive approach Results: The study revealed that new enrolment was not increased, health care utilization rate was increased and the benefit package was almost same in both groups. The overall inclusiveness was higher for the government HI, but enrolment from the religious minority, proportion of negotiated amount during treatment were significantly higher (p&lt;0.05). During illness, the response time to reach hospital was significantly faster in cooperative health insurance than government health insurance. Qualitative findings showed that level of participation, accountability, transparency and recording system was better in cooperative health insurance than public. Conclusion: Cooperative HI could be more sustainable and accountable to the community for all; low, middle and high-income countries.


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