A simple model of health insurance competition

Arbeitspapier

This paper investigates competition between health insurance companies under different financing regulations. We consider two alternatives advanced in recent German health care reform discussions: competition by contribution rates (health contributions) and by fees (health premia). We find that contribution rate competition yields lower company profits and higher consumer welfare than premia competition when switching between insurance companies is costly.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 3220

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Analysis of Health Care Markets ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health ; Market Structure, Pricing, and Design: Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
• Subject: health care reform ; competition ; consumer choice ; Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung ; Wettbewerb ; Gesundheitsfinanzierung ; Sozialversicherungsbeitrag ; Gesundheitsprämie ; Wohlfahrtseffekt ; Theorie ; Gesundheitsreform ; Deutschland

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Kemnitz, Alexander
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2010

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/46447
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET