Insights from behavioral economics for policymakers of choice‐based health insurance markets: A scoping review

This article uses the systematic scoping review method to summarize literature at the interface of behavioral economics and health insurance. We aim to offer policymakers of choice‐based health insurance markets an understanding of (a) behavioral factors that affect consumer decision‐making in health insurance markets and (b) behavioral interventions that can be used to help consumers make better health insurance decisions. In the process, we reviewed 80 studies from extant literature and found that 18 behavioral factors negatively impact three major aspects of consumer decision‐making: that is, purchasing, quality of plan choice, and switching. We also identify 17 behavioral interventions that policymakers could use to help consumers make better health insurance decisions. However, while using the findings of the field, policymakers must keep in mind that there are limitations to the generalizability of the findings coupled with limitations that behavioral economics comes along with. Based on this study, future research could focus on identifying the segments of the populous that are more likely to be affected by the behavioral factors, and what behavioral interventions can be used to help them. Future research is also needed in settings other than WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) nations for the benefit of policymakers of non‐WEIRD nations.