Not logged in.

Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Fine-tuning of health insurance regulation - unhealthy consequences for an individual insurer
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Johannes Schoder
  • Michele Sennhauser
  • Peter Zweifel
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title International Journal of the Economics of Business
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1357-1516
Volume 17
Number 3
Page Range 313 - 327
Date 2010
Abstract Text This paper sheds light on some unexpected consequences of health insurance regulation that may pose a big challenge to insurers' risk management. Because mandated uniform contributions to health insurance trigger risk-selection efforts, risk adjustment (RA) schemes become necessary. A good deal of research into the optimal RA formula has been performed. A recent proposal in Switzerland has been to add 'Hospitalization exceeding three days during the previous year' as an indicator of high risk. Applying the new formula to an individual Swiss health insurer, its payments into the RA scheme are predicted to increase substantially, reaching up to 13% of premium income. Its mistake had been to implement Managed Care successfully, resulting in low rates of hospitalization. The expected risk management response is to extend hospital stays beyond three days, contrary to stated policy objectives.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1080/13571516.2010.513812
PDF File Download from ZORA
Export BibTeX
EP3 XML (ZORA)