Despite universal public insurance coverage, private health insurance (PHI) covers almost half of the Australian population – a high coverage rate in comparison with most other OECD countries. Reflecting the belief that a well-functioning health care system should be based on a mixed system of insurance and provision, Australia’s policy makers have encouraged the development of private financing and delivery arrangements operating in parallel to the public system. PHI is seen as a vehicle for enhancing individuals’ choice of provider and care options, and for reducing cost and demand pressures on public hospitals. Policy makers have intervened substantially in the private health insurance market. Regulation has promoted risk-pooling and incentive policies have stimulated the purchase of private cover.
This paper analyses the Australian private health insurance market. It describes how PHI interacts with the public system, and assesses its contribution to equity, efficiency and ...
En dépit de l'assurance publique universelle, l'assurance maladie privée couvre presque la moitié de la population australienne -- un taux élevé d'assurance en comparaison de la plupart des autres pays de l'OCDE. En reflétant ( ?) la croyance qu'un système de santé qui fonctionne bien devrait être basé sur un système mixte d'assurance public et privé, les décisionnaires australiens ont encouragé le développement des arrangements privés de financement et de provision des soins de santé qui fonctionnent en parallèle du système public. L'assurance maladie privée est considérée comme un moteur pour augmenter le choix des fournisseurs de soins et des options de soins ainsi que pour réduire les coûts et la forte demande envers les hôpitaux publics. L’Australie est intervenue largement sur le marché de l'assurance maladie privée. La régulation a favorisé la prise en charge de risque et les politiques d'incitation ont stimulé l'adhésion à la couverture privée.
Cet article analyse le marché ...
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Paper provided by OECD, Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs in its series OECD Health Working Papers with number
8.
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