Journal of Health Economics
Vol. 29, Issue 6, Pages 821-838
December 2010
Abstract
This study assesses the factors influencing the movement of
people across health plans. We distinguish three types of cost-related
transitions: adverse selection, the movement of the less healthy to
more generous plans; adverse retention, the tendency for people to stay
where they are when they get sick; and aging in place, enrollees’
inertia in plan choice, leading plans with older enrollees to increase
in relative cost over time. Using data from the Group Insurance
Commission in Massachusetts, we show that adverse selection and aging
in place are both quantitatively important. Either can materially
impact equilibrium enrollments, especially when premiums to enrollees
reflect these costs.
Citation
Cutler, David, Bryan Lincoln, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Understanding Movement Across Health Plans." Journal of Health Economics 29.6 (December 2010): 821-838.