MarketWatch: Consumer decision making in the individual health insurance market

M. Susan Marquis, Melinda Beeuwkes Buntin, José J. Escarce, Kanika Kapur, Thomas A. Louis, Jill M. Yegian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results from a study of consumer decision making in California's individual health insurance market. We conclude that price subsidies will have only modest effects on participation and that efforts to reduce nonprice barriers might be just as effective. We also find that there is substantial pooling in the individual market and that it increases over time because people who become sick can continue coverage without new underwriting. Finally, we show that people prefer more-generous benefits and that it is difficult to induce people in poor health to enroll in high-deductible health plans.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)W226-W234
JournalHealth Affairs
Volume25
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy

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