Degree Year
2007
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Economics
Advisor(s)
Kenneth Kuttner
Barbara Craig
Keywords
Healthcare, Insurance, Policies, Risk, Premiums, Legislation, Discrimination, Chronic
Abstract
In this paper, I analyze four alternative policies that address "premium risk": the risk that health insurance premiums will increase if an individual acquires a chronic condition. They are: premium risk insurance, community rating, anti-discrimination laws for large firms, and government subsidies. I show that community rating and anti-discrimination laws provide incomplete protection, and have the potential to create welfare-reducing distortions in incentives, while subsidies can be designed that mimic the efficiency of premium risk insurance. While the economic concepts behind these conclusions are well-documented and well-understood, I believe my own model adds value in the form of simplicity and ease of comparison. There is also an unambiguous policy implication: if we are concerned with premium risk, the complex legislation that has been introduced so far should be abandoned in favor of a new subsidy program.
Repository Citation
Coffina, Matthew, "Premium Risk and Healthcare Policy" (2007). Honors Papers. 447.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/honors/447
