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Health Care Network Formation and Policyholders' Welfare

Author

Listed:
  • Bardey David

    (University of Rosario (Bogota) and Toulouse School of Economics)

  • Bourgeon Jean-Marc

    (INRA and Ecole Polytechnique)

Abstract

We develop a model in which two insurers and two health care providers compete for a fixed mass of policyholders. Insurers compete in premium and offer coverage against financial consequences of health risk. They have the possibility to sign agreements with providers to establish a health care network. Providers, partially altruistic, are horizontally differentiated with respect to their physical address. They choose the health care quality and compete in price. First, we show that policyholders are better off under a competition between conventional insurance rather than under a competition between integrated insurers (Managed Care Organizations). Second, we reveal that the competition between a conventional insurer and a Managed Care Organization (MCO) leads to a similar equilibrium than the competition between two MCOs characterized by a different objective, i.e. private versus mutual. Third, we point out that the ex ante providers' horizontal differentiation leads to an exclusionary equilibrium in which both insurers select one distinct provider. This result is in sharp contrast with frameworks that introduce the concept of option value to model the (ex post) horizontal differentiation between providers.

Suggested Citation

  • Bardey David & Bourgeon Jean-Marc, 2011. "Health Care Network Formation and Policyholders' Welfare," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:11:y:2011:i:2:n:4
    DOI: 10.2202/1935-1682.2717
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sorek Gilad, 2016. "Competition and Product Choice in Option Demand Markets," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 16(2), pages 785-805, April.
    2. David Bardey & Giancarlo Buitrago, 2015. "Integraci√≥n vertical en el sector de la salud colombiano," Documentos CEDE 14069, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    3. Gilad Sorek, 2015. "Health Insurance and Competition in Health Care Markets," Auburn Economics Working Paper Series auwp2015-03, Department of Economics, Auburn University.
    4. Edmond Baranes & David Bardey, 2015. "Competition between health maintenance organizations and nonintegrated health insurance companies in health insurance markets," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Brekke, Kurt R. & Dalen, Dag Morten & Straume, Odd Rune, 2022. "Paying for pharmaceuticals: uniform pricing versus two-part tariffs," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    6. Sorek, Gilad, 2016. "Competition and consumer choice in option demand markets," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 13-16.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • L42 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Vertical Restraints; Resale Price Maintenance; Quantity Discounts

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