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Effect of patient reimbursement method on health‐care utilization: evidence from China

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  • Hai Zhong

Abstract

For most insurers, traditional methods of controlling health‐care demand include deductibles, co‐payments, stop‐losses, and insurance ceilings. This paper examines the effect of the patient reimbursement method of health insurance (immediate reimbursement or later reimbursement) on individuals' health‐care utilization decisions. We find that immediate reimbursement significantly increases the likelihood of patients seeking outpatient treatment in China. We also empirically explore the channels through which immediate reimbursement affects individual's incentives on health‐care demand. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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  • Hai Zhong, 2011. "Effect of patient reimbursement method on health‐care utilization: evidence from China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(11), pages 1312-1329, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:20:y:2011:i:11:p:1312-1329
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.1670
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    Cited by:

    1. Jianmei Zhao & Hai Zhong, 2015. "Medical expenditure in urban China: a quantile regression analysis," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 387-406, December.
    2. Zhiyuan Hou & Ellen Van de Poel & Eddy Van Doorslaer & Baorong Yu & Qingyue Meng, 2014. "Effects Of Ncms On Access To Care And Financial Protection In China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(8), pages 917-934, August.
    3. Xiaoyu Wu & Lixing Li, 2014. "The Motives Of Intergenerational Transfer To The Elderly Parents In China: Consequences Of High Medical Expenditure," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(6), pages 631-652, June.
    4. Takaku, Reo & Bessho, S., 2017. "Do benefits in kind or refunds affect health service utilization and health outcomes? A natural experiment from Japan," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(5), pages 534-542.
    5. Gang Chen & Gordon Liu & Fei Xu, 2014. "The Impact of the Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance on Health Services Utilisation in China," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 277-292, March.
    6. Hudson, Eibhlin & Nolan, Anne, 2015. "Public healthcare eligibility and the utilisation of GP services by older people in Ireland," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 6(C), pages 24-43.
    7. Richard Peter & Sebastian Soika & Petra Steinorth, 2016. "Health Insurance, Health Savings Accounts and Healthcare Utilization," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(3), pages 357-371, March.
    8. Jing You, 2016. "Lending to Parents and Insuring Children: Is There a Role for Microcredit in Complementing Health Insurance in Rural China?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(5), pages 543-558, May.

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