TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluating the effect of regulatory prohibitions against risk selection by health status on supplemental insurance ownership in Israel
AU - Gross, Revital
AU - Brammli-Greenberg, Shuli
PY - 2004/5
Y1 - 2004/5
N2 - In Israel, supplemental insurance, which covers services not included in the mandatory basic benefits package, is offered by sick funds and regulated by the Ministry of Health. In 1998, policy regulations were set to eliminate barriers that prevented the ill from purchasing supplemental insurance, thereby increasing equality and risk solidarity. In this paper, we examine whether these regulations have indeed changed the extent of ownership and characteristics of policyholders, using data from surveys conducted in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001. The findings indicate that while there were no significant changes between 1995 and 1997, there was a significant increase in ownership among those with poor health status after the new regulations came into effect. We conclude that administrative regulations can influence the structure of supplemental insurance to achieve desired social values, and discuss additional policy options that are currently under debate in Israel to further promote equality and solidarity in this market by increasing accessibility to low income and other underserved populations.
AB - In Israel, supplemental insurance, which covers services not included in the mandatory basic benefits package, is offered by sick funds and regulated by the Ministry of Health. In 1998, policy regulations were set to eliminate barriers that prevented the ill from purchasing supplemental insurance, thereby increasing equality and risk solidarity. In this paper, we examine whether these regulations have indeed changed the extent of ownership and characteristics of policyholders, using data from surveys conducted in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001. The findings indicate that while there were no significant changes between 1995 and 1997, there was a significant increase in ownership among those with poor health status after the new regulations came into effect. We conclude that administrative regulations can influence the structure of supplemental insurance to achieve desired social values, and discuss additional policy options that are currently under debate in Israel to further promote equality and solidarity in this market by increasing accessibility to low income and other underserved populations.
KW - Equality
KW - Health System Reform
KW - Israel
KW - Regulation
KW - Solidarity
KW - Supplemental insurance
KW - Vulnerable populations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1442311082&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/s0277-9536(03)00343-5
DO - 10.1016/s0277-9536(03)00343-5
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C2 - 14990363
AN - SCOPUS:1442311082
SN - 0277-9536
VL - 58
SP - 1609
EP - 1622
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
IS - 9
ER -