Switching Costs in Medicare Advantage

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Atherly ◽  
Roger D. Feldman ◽  
Bryan Dowd ◽  
Eline van den Broek-Altenburg
Keyword(s):  
Switching Costs ◽  
Mixed Logit ◽  
State Dependence ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Medicare Advantage ◽  
Plan Choice ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Individual Choices ◽  
Longitudinal Dataset ◽  
Better Than

AbstractThis paper estimates the magnitude of switching costs in the Medicare Advantage program. Consumers are generally assumed to pick plans that provide the combination of benefits and premiums that maximize their individual utility. However, the plan choice literature has generally omitted prior choices from choice models. The analysis is based on five years of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, a nationally representative longitudinal dataset. The MCBS data were combined with data on Medicare Advantage Part C plan benefits and premiums. Individual choices are modeled as a function of individual characteristics, plan characteristics and prior year plan choices using a mixed logit model. We found relatively high rates of switching between plans within insurer (20%), although less switching between insurers. Prior year plan choices were highly significant at both the contract and plan level. Premium was negative and significant. Loyalty (contract and plan), premium and plan structure were found to be heterogeneous in preferences. We found a statistically significant willingness to pay for a lower prescription drug deductible and lower copays. Switching costs were higher for sicker individuals. Switching costs between plans offered by the same insurer are far lower than switching costs between insurers; beneficiaries will switch plans if an alternative is perceived as $233 a month better than the current choice and switch insurers if the alternative is perceived as $944 better than the current plan/contract, on average. Premium elasticities would be 34% greater in magnitude if prior choices were irrelevant. We provide evidence that the state dependence is structural rather than spurious.

Cast Demographics, Unobserved Segments, and Heterogeneous Switching Costs in a Television Viewing Choice Model

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Shachar ◽  
John W. Emerson
Keyword(s):  
Television Viewing ◽  
Switching Costs ◽  
Choice Model ◽  
Predictive Testing ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Scheduling Strategies ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Model Fits

An accurate television viewing choice model is an important tool for television executives and advertisers. The authors present a new viewing choice model, which differs from the traditional Rust-Alpert model in three ways: (1) It introduces a new show characteristic—the demographic characteristics of a show's cast; (2) it allows the preferences over the traditional show categories to be a function of both observable and unobservable individual characteristics; and (3) it allows the cost of switching among the viewing alternatives to vary across show types and individual characteristics. Cross-validated predictive testing shows that this model fits the data better than the Rust–Alpert model does. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that network executives can improve ratings by using this model. The authors predict that by following their scheduling strategies (in particular, by broadcasting comedies after 10:00 P.M.), ABC, CBS, and NBC could have increased their average ratings by 12.9%, 7.5%, and 6.7%, respectively, on selected evenings.

Rising Stars and Underdogs: The Role Race and Parental Education Play in Predicting Mentorship

2021 ◽  
pp. 0044118X2110046
Author(s):  
Veronica Fruiht ◽  
Jordan Boeder ◽  
Thomas Chan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Conditional Inference ◽  
Youth Of Color ◽  
Social Success ◽  
Conditional Inference Tree ◽  
Tree Models ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Inference Tree

Research suggests that youth with more financial and social resources are more likely to have access to mentorship. Conversely, the rising star hypothesis posits that youth who show promise through their individual successes are more likely to be mentored. Utilizing a nationally representative sample ( N = 4,882), we tested whether demographic characteristics (e.g., race, SES) or personal resources (e.g., academic/social success) are better predictors of receiving mentorship. Regression analyses suggested that demographic, contextual, and individual characteristics all significantly predicted access to mentorship, specifically by non-familial mentors. However, conditional inference tree models that explored the interaction of mentorship predictors by race showed that individual characteristics mattered less for Black and Latino/a youth. Therefore, the rising star hypothesis may hold true for White youth, but the story of mentoring is more complicated for youth of color. Findings highlight the implications of Critical Race Theory for mentoring research and practice.

Preferences Toward COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Features: Results From a National Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110340
Author(s):  
Bhagyashree Katare ◽  
Shuoli Zhao ◽  
Joel Cuffey ◽  
Maria I. Marshall ◽  
Corinne Valdivia
Keyword(s):  
Logit Model ◽  
Nasal Swab ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Mixed Logit ◽  
Monetary Incentive ◽  
Monetary Incentives ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nationally Representative

Purpose: Describe preferences toward COVID-19 testing features (method, location, hypothetical monetary incentive) and simulate the effect of monetary incentives on willingness to test. Design: Online cross-sectional survey administered in July 2020. Subjects: 1,505 nationally representative U.S. respondents. Measures: Choice of preferred COVID-19 testing options in discrete choice experiment. Options differed by method (nasal-swab, saliva), location (hospital/clinic, drive-through, at-home), and monetary incentive ($0, $10, $20). Analysis: Latent class conditional logit model to classify preferences, mixed logit model to simulate incentive effectiveness. Results: Preferences were categorized into 4 groups: 34% (n = 517) considered testing comfort (saliva versus nasal swab) most important, 27% (n = 408) were willing to trade comfort for monetary incentives, 19% (n = 287) would only test at convenient locations, 20% (n = 293) avoided testing altogether. Relative to no monetary incentives, incentives of $100 increased the percent of testing avoiders (16%) and convenience seekers (70%) that were willing to test. Conclusion: Preferences toward different COVID-19 testing features vary, highlighting the need to match testing features with individuals to monitor the spread of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Intergenerational Income Elasticity in Turkey

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 30-37
Author(s):  
Murat Anıl Mercan ◽  
Hande Barlin
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Income Elasticity ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Income Status ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Different Characteristics ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Longitudinal Dataset

Social scientists have been intrigued by the relationship between generations based on different characteristics. Economists, has been especially interested in measuring intergenerational income elasticity, which looks at the relationship of parents and that of their children when they become adults and gives clue on trends of income inequality. Most of the literature concentrates on the experiences of developed countries and measurement issues. Nevertheless, new studies concerning intergenerational income elasticity is being undertaken in developing countries as the data become increasingly available for these countries. In this vein, there is only one previous study that investigates intergenerational income elasticity for Turkey. Mercan (2012) finds that intergenerational income elasticity is around 0.1 in Turkey, which depicts Turkey as a highly mobile country meaning that children of poor parents have a higher likelihood to have a better income status. However, his study does not depend on a longitudinal dataset, which might make Mercan’s (2012) estimate biased. Following Solon (1992) in using OLS for lower bound and instrumental variable (IV) for upper bound, this study puts forth a new estimate, which relies on a nationally representative and longitudinal dataset for Turkey. The study's estimate for intergenerational income elasticity varies between 0.3 and 0.6, which is much higher than the result of Mercan (2012), indicating that Turkey is a less mobile country than previously foreseen.

Job satisfaction among secondary teachers in Korea

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukkyung You ◽  
Ann Y. Kim ◽  
Sun Ah Lim
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Teacher Job Satisfaction ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
School Level ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Sense Of Efficacy ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Using Data

This study applied multilevel modeling to examine how individual characteristics, such as gender and teaching experience, and contextual characteristics, such as principal leadership and perceived colleague support, influenced Korean secondary school teachers’ sense of job satisfaction. Previous research identified teachers with high job satisfaction to have positive influences on their students, making it important to understand teacher job satisfaction not only for teachers but also for students. Using data from a nationally representative sample of 2908 teachers from 150 middle schools, the results indicated that (1) among teachers’ individual characteristics, teacher efficacy had significant effects on teacher job satisfaction, and (2) among institutional, school-level characteristics, perceptions of academic climate, support from colleagues, and supportive principal leadership had significant impacts on teacher job satisfaction. The findings of this study provide reason for individual teachers to reflect on their sense of efficacy and the influence it can have on their professional practice. The study also suggests ways to create better education policies on the basis of its empirical data.

scholarly journals Bystander Interventions on Behalf of Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence Victims

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1694-1718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Weitzman ◽  
Sarah Cowan ◽  
Kate Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Situational Characteristics ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Private Matter ◽  
The Individual

Using newly available U.S. nationally representative data from the No More study ( N = 1,307), this article investigates (a) knowledge of sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV) victims within one’s social network; (b) who intervenes, whom they intervene on behalf of, and how they intervene; and (c) the perceived barriers to intervening in IPV specifically. The findings reveal that knowledge of violence, the likelihood of intervening, and the intervention approaches taken all vary demographically and by violence type. Among respondents who have known a victim, one- third report having intervened for sexual assault, while one-half report having intervened for IPV. For both types of violence, respondents are more likely to have intervened on behalf of family or friends than on behalf of more distant network members. However, respondents are more likely to have solicited the help of authorities and less likely to have offered safe haven in instances of sexual assault than in instances of IPV. The most commonly cited barriers to IPV intervention include fear of injury, fear of misinterpretation, and belief that IPV is a private matter, though these vary across demographic groups. These findings indicate that the decision to intervene is highly contextual—contingent on the individual characteristics of the intervener, situational characteristics of the violence, and the relationship between the intervener and the victim.

scholarly journals The Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset 2006-2016: A Multi-Wave Approach to Maintaining a Longitudinal Dataset

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bindi Kindermann ◽  
Theresa Nunan ◽  
Sarah Hinde ◽  
James Chipperfield
Keyword(s):  
Sample Selection ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Wave Approach ◽  
Australian Census ◽  
Linkage Error ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Longitudinal Dataset

ABSTRACT ObjectivesThe Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset (ACLD) is a nationally representative longitudinal dataset increasingly used to study Australian social and economic transitions. The ACLD will become an even more powerful resource when it is extended to include linked records from the 2016 Australian Census of Population and Housing. The ACLD 2006-2011 dataset consists of a 5% representative sample of 2006 Census records and the linked 2011 Census records, and has been a well-received product in Australia as our first longitudinal Census dataset. In the process of extending the dataset to include linked records from the 2016 Census, we are aiming to improve the dataset by addressing issues such as linkage error and the under representation of specific population groups, while also taking advantage of recent changes in data linking methodology and policy that enable us to conduct better quality linking. ApproachA multi-wave framework will be implemented for maintaining and improving the ACLD sample (as an alternative to the popular top-up sampling approach). Under the multi-wave framework, a sample is selected from each Census and is the beginning of a new wave of the ACLD, to be linked to each following Census. Allowing the sample selection method to be different for each wave enables us to apply learnings from previous waves to selecting a better sample for the next. For example, we could design the 2011 Wave sample to over sample certain population groups which were under represented in the 2006-2011 linked sample. We could also adjust the sample size, or change the method of sample selection in reaction to changing data item response rates. ResultsInitial analysis suggests the multi-wave approach will enable high quality analysis of transitions in hard to link and previously under represented population groups between 2011 and 2016. While these improvements cannot be retrospectively applied to the sample selected for the 2006 Wave, the linking strategy will also enable unbiased analysis of the Australian longitudinal population from 2006 to 2016. ConclusionThe application of the multi-wave framework will enable the production of a high quality ACLD 2006-2016 product with minimal bias and improved sample representativeness, which can be used to explore changes in Australian society between the 2006, 2011 and 2016 Censuses. The flexibility of the multi-wave framework will allow continued improvement to the form and function of the ACLD in future waves.

scholarly journals Decisión de localización del hogar en España. Modelo de clases latentes vs. modelo mixto.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Anastasia Hernández Alemán
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class ◽  
Choice Model ◽  
Latent Class Model ◽  
Mixed Logit ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Mixed Logit Models ◽  
Or Groups ◽  
Household Preference ◽  
Unobservable Heterogeneity

In this work the unobservable heterogeneity respect to the choice of household’s residential location is analyzed, considering three alternatives: urban area, interurban area and rural area. It is employed latent class choice model to represent this behavior and the results are compared with the multinomial and mixed logit models. The more flexible structure of the latent class model allows us more deeply into the analysis of unobservable heterogeneity with respect to the more limited analysis of the randomness of the parameters of the mixed logit model. The empirical results indicate two classes or groups of households with differentiated behaviors regarding to the decision of location and associated to different lifestyles. Thus, certain attributes of the location of the dwelling, such as noise, pollution or delinquency, have an effect on household preference in a different way according to the class of belonging. Also, individual characteristics of the household’s head, such as age, gender or educational level, have a different impact on the preference for location according to the class of belonging. The results allow us to distinguish two lifestyles associated with each class or group of preference: suburban and urban.

scholarly journals Inattention and Switching Costs as Sources of Inertia in Medicare Part D

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (9) ◽  
pp. 2737-2781
Author(s):  
Florian Heiss ◽  
Daniel McFadden ◽  
Joachim Winter ◽  
Amelie Wuppermann ◽  
Bo Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Data Model ◽  
Switching Costs ◽  
Medicare Part D ◽  
Medicare Part ◽  
Part D ◽  
Plan Choice ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Ability And Willingness ◽  
Over Time

Consumers’ health plan choices are highly persistent even though optimal plans change over time. This paper separates two sources of inertia, inattention to plan choice and switching costs. We develop a panel data model with separate attention and choice stages, linked by heterogeneity in acuity, i.e., the ability and willingness to make diligent choices. Using data from Medicare Part D, we find that inattention is an important source of inertia but switching costs also play a role, particularly for low-acuity individuals. Separating the two stages and allowing for heterogeneity is crucial for counterfactual simulations of interventions that reduce inertia. (JEL D12, G22, H51, I13, I18, L65)

scholarly journals Overestimating one’s ‘green’ behavior: Better-than-average bias may function to reduce perceived personal threat from climate change

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Leviston ◽  
Hannah Velure Uren
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Average Effect ◽  
Environmental Behaviour ◽  
Personal Threat ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Environmental Behaviours ◽  
Better Than

The actions of others, and what others approve of, can be a powerful tool for promoting pro-environmental behaviour. A potential barrier to the utility of social norms however are cognitive biases in how we perceive others, including the better-than-average effect. This effect describes the tendency for people to think they are exceptional, especially when compared with their peers. In order to investigate the role of the better-than-average effect in the context of climate-relevant pro-environmental behaviour, we administered questions as part of a larger online survey of 5,219 nationally representative Australians. Participants were asked to report whether they engaged in a list of 21 pro-environmental behaviours, and then asked to estimate how their engagement compared with the average Australian. Over half of our participants ‘self-enhanced’; they overestimated their engagement in pro-environmental behaviours relative to others. ‘Self-enhancement’ was related to reduced perceptions of personal harm from climate change, more favourable assessments of coping ability, less guilt, and lower moral and ethical duty to take action to prevent climate change. These relationships held when participants sceptical about anthropogenic climate change were removed from analyses. We discuss the implications of the findings for the use of social norms in promoting pro-environmental behaviour.

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