Department of Finance

 

Date of this Version

1993

Document Type

Article

Citation

Journal of Actuarial Practice 1 (1993), pp. 71-91

Comments

Copyright 1993 Absalom Press

Abstract

This paper uses data from the 1977-78 National Medical Care Expenditures Survey to evaluate five different measures of insurance: a family's expected out-of-pocket payment for medical care, the expected value of the indemnity (fee-for-service) benefits from an insurance policy for a family, the percentage of the expected loss that the insured pays, the policy premium, and the policy limit of coverage. The study provides information that can help us understand whose insurance coverage will change significantly as a result of health care reform. For example, it shows that those with low income (such as minorities, families headed by females, and unmarried individuals) on average purchase low amounts of health insurance. These groups would benefit considerably if health care reform institutes universal coverage. Conversely, whites, families headed by males, married individuals, and those with high incomes on average have considerable health insurance coverage.

Share

COinS