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- Title
Estimating the Impact of State Health Insurance Mandates on Premium Costs in the Individual Market.
- Authors
LaPierre, Tracey A.; Conover, Christopher J.; Henderson, James W.; Seward, J. Allen; Taylor, Beck A.
- Abstract
Health insurance mandates have long been controversial, but nevertheless continue to grow in number every year. These include services mandates (e.g., alcohol treatment), provider mandates (e.g., chiropractors) and coverage mandates (e.g., newborns). Using Community Tracking Survey data from 1997-2003, we examine the impact of such mandates on premiums for indemnity and HMO products in the individual market. Our results are mixed: While the total number of mandates in a state has no significant effect on premiums, our analysis shows some mandates are cost-saving while others result in higher premiums. Selected services mandates and provider mandates tended to reduce HMO family premiums, while coverage mandates had the opposite effect. Specific mandates associated with higher premiums include therapeutic services and alternatives to hospitalization. Mandates associated with lower premiums included women and children mandates, alternative medicine, emergency services, screening services, physician substitutes and counseling. In other cases, mandates had mixed effects on indemnity vs. HMO premiums or individual vs. family premiums. Mandates therefore should not be viewed as unambiguously bad or good: Careful policymaking requires separating the wheat from the chaff.
- Subjects
HEALTH insurance; CHIROPRACTORS; MEDICAL personnel; HOSPITAL care; ALTERNATIVE medicine
- Publication
Journal of Insurance Regulation, 2009, Vol 27, Issue 3, p3
- ISSN
0736-248X
- Publication type
Article