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Cross‐subsidization in the market for employment‐related health insurance

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  • Alan C. Monheit
  • Thomas M. Selden

Abstract

This paper uses data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey to examine the nature of equilibrium in the market for employment‐related health insurance. We examine coverage generosity, premiums, and insurance benefits net of expenditures on premiums, showing that despite a degree of market segmentation, there was a substantial amount of pooling of heterogeneous risks in 1987 among households with employment‐related coverage. Our results are largely invariant to (i) firm size and (ii) whether or not employers offer a choice among plans. Our results suggest the need for caution concerning incremental reforms that would weaken the link between employment and insurance without substituting alternative institutions for the pooling of risks. Copyright © 2000 Published in 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan C. Monheit & Thomas M. Selden, 2000. "Cross‐subsidization in the market for employment‐related health insurance," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 9(8), pages 699-714, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:9:y:2000:i:8:p:699-714
    DOI: 10.1002/1099-1050(200012)9:8<699::AID-HEC546>3.0.CO;2-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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