Health Affairs, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.3.w242 (Published online May 6, 2008) © 2008 by Project HOPE	New Online   How Would Obama, McCain Cover The Uninsured?   Debating Cost Of Uninsured   Try Medicare-For-All   HA Blog Top 10

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How Risky Is Individual Health Insurance?

¹ Mark Pauly is the Bendheim Professor in the Health Care Systems Department, Wharton School, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
² Robert Lieberthal is a doctoral candidate in that department.

^*Corresponding author.

Abstract

This paper describes the relationship between type of insurance coverage in one period and the likelihood of becoming uninsured in the next. We find that for people at the median health status, becoming uninsured is most likely for those with individual insurance, less likely for those with small-group insurance, and least likely for those with large-group insurance. However, for people in poor or fair health, the chances of losing coverage are much greater for people who had small-group insurance than for those who had individual insurance. We attribute these results to the offsetting effects of high loadings and guaranteed renewability in the individual market. [Health Affairs 27, no. 3 (2008): w242-w249 (published online 6 May 2008; 10.1377/hlthaff.27.3.w242)]

Key Words: Business Of Health, Consumer Issues, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, Managed Care - Consumers, Insurance Market

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