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The Effects of Uncertainty on the Demand for Health Insurance

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  • Çaḡatay Koç

Abstract

This article analyzes the effects of uncertainty and increases in risk aversion on the demand for health insurance using a theoretical model that highlights the interdependence between insurance and health care demand decisions. Two types of uncertainty faced by the individuals are examined. The first one is the uncertainty in the consumer's pretreatment health and the second is the uncertainty surrounding the productivity of health care. Comparative statics results are reported indicating the impact on the demand for insurance of shifts in the distributions of pretreatment health and productivity of health care in the form of first‐order stochastic dominance, Rothschild–Stiglitz mean‐preserving spreads, and second‐order stochastic dominance. The demand for insurance increases in response to a Rothschild–Stiglitz increase in risk in the distribution of the pretreatment health provided that the health production function is in a special class and the price elasticity of health care is nondecreasing in the pretreatment health. Provided also that the demand for health care is own‐price inelastic, the same conclusion is obtained when the uncertainty is about the productivity of health care.

Suggested Citation

  • Çaḡatay Koç, 2004. "The Effects of Uncertainty on the Demand for Health Insurance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 71(1), pages 41-61, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jrinsu:v:71:y:2004:i:1:p:41-61
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0022-4367.2004.00078.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Asheim, Geir B. & Emblem, Anne Wenche & Nilssen, Tore, 2010. "Health insurance: Medical treatment vs disability payment," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 137-145, September.
    2. Çağatay Koç, 2005. "Health‐Specific Moral Hazard Effects," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 72(1), pages 98-118, July.
    3. Wang, H. Holly & Rosenman, Robert, 2007. "Perceived need and actual demand for health insurance among rural Chinese residents," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 373-388.

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