Additional Insurance Coverage Research Articles

On the factors determining the health profiles and care needs of institutionalized elders

In many developed countries, population aging raises a number of issues related to the organization and financing of long-term care. While the determinants of the overall burden and cost of care are well understood, the organization of institutionalized long-term care must meet the needs of the elderly. One way to optimize management is to use information on health problems to assess the infrastructure needed, the qualifications of staff, and the allocation of new entrants. In this research, we determine the typical health profiles of institutionalized elderly using novel longitudinal data from nursing homes in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Our data contain comprehensive information on health factors such as impairments of psychological and sensory functions, levels of limitations, and pathologies for 21549 individuals covering the period from 1996 to 2018. First, we perform a spectral clustering algorithm and determine the profiles of the institutionalized individuals. Then, we use multinomial logistic regression to study the effects of the factors that determine these health profiles. Our main findings include eight typical health profiles: the largest group consists of the most “healthy” individuals, who, on average, require the least amount of help with their daily needs and who stay in the institution the longest. We show that, in contrast to age at admission and gender, the limitations and the set of pathologies are relevant factors in determining the profile. Our study sheds light on the typical structures of elderly' health profiles, which can be used by institutions to organize their resources and by insurance companies to derive profile-based products that provide additional insurance coverage in case of special needs.

Potentially inappropriate testing for vitamin D deficiency: a cross-sectional study in Switzerland

BackgroundThere is consensus that vitamin D supplementation is often indicated but population-based screening by laboratory testing for vitamin D deficiency is inadequate. Testing should be restricted to people at high risk of severe deficiency. This study describes the current lab testing for vitamin D deficiency in the adult population of Switzerland.MethodsWe assessed Swiss health insurance data (SWICA) for incidence of lab testing for vitamin D levels, comparing the years 2015 and 2018. Claims were analyzed for associations between lab testing and age, sex, medical indications, insurance status and geographic location in multivariable regression analyses. We also estimated the costs of vitamin D testing.ResultsData from 200,043 and 200,046 persons for 2015 and 2018, respectively, were analyzed. Vitamin D level was tested in 14% of the sample population in 2015 and 20% in 2018. Testing increased by 69% for individuals aged 26–30. Testing was associated with being middle-aged to young senior citizens, female, medical indications (pregnancy, renal disease, osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, HIV, glucocorticoid intake), more chronic conditions, having a mandatory insurance with a low deductible, additional insurance coverage, and living in urban areas. We estimate that the total laboratory cost to mandatory insurance was about 90 million Swiss francs in 2018.ConclusionsDespite recommendations for routine vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D testing of low risk individuals is common and increasing in Switzerland.

Supplementary Health Insurance from the consumer point of view: Are Israelis consumers doing an informed rational choice when purchasing Supplementary Health Insurance?

BackgroundThe National Health Insurance Law in Israel ensures basic health basket eligibility for all its citizens. A supplemental health insurance plan (SHIP) is offered for an additional fee. Over the years, the percentage of supplemental insurance’s holders has risen considerably, ranking among the highest in OECD countries. The assumption that consumers implement an informed rational choice based on relevant information is doubtful. Are consumers sufficiently well informed to make market processes work well? ObjectivesTo examine perspectives, preferences and knowledge of Israelis in relation to SHIP. MethodologyA telephone survey was conducted with a representative sample of the Israeli adult population. 703 interviews were completed. The response rate was 50.3%. Findings85% of the sample reported possessing SHIP. This survey found that most of the Israeli public parched additional insurance coverage however did not show a significant knowledge about the benefits provided by the supplementary insurance, at least in the three measurements used in this study. Conclusions, policy implications and recommendationsThe scope of SHIP acquisition is very broad and cannot be explained in economic terms alone. Acquiring SHIP became a default option rather than an active decision. It is time to review the goals, achievements and side effects of SHIP and to create new policy for the future.

The likely effects of employer-mandated complementary health insurance on health coverage in France

In France, access to health care greatly depends on having a complementary health insurance coverage (CHI). Thus, the generalisation of CHI became a core factor in the national health strategy created by the government in 2013. The first measure has been to compulsorily extend employer-sponsored CHI to all private sector employees on January 1st, 2016 and improve its portability coverage for unemployed former employees for up to 12 months. Based on data from the 2012 Health, Health Care and Insurance survey, this article provides a simulation of the likely effects of this mandate on CHI coverage and related inequalities in the general population by age, health status, socio-economic characteristics and time and risk preferences. We show that the non-coverage rate that was estimated to be 5% in 2012 will drop to 4% following the generalisation of employer-sponsored CHI and to 3.7% after accounting for portability coverage. The most vulnerable populations are expected to remain more often without CHI whereas non coverage will significantly decrease among the less risk averse and the more present oriented. With its focus on private sector employees, the policy is thus likely to do little for populations that would benefit most from additional insurance coverage while expanding coverage for other populations that appear to place little value on CHI.

Komponente storitve in njihov pomen pri zamenjavi zdravstvene zavarovalnice

This article examines the importance of components comprising the service complementary voluntary health insurance (CVHI). The multi-component service research model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) with a sample of 300 Slovenian users of this service. The authors found that the CVHI service consists of five components to which users attach different importance. Users attach the highest importance to mode of payment of insurance premiums, additional insurance coverage, and the quality of insurance services. Very few CVHI users would change their health insurance company, and a significant difference exists between users who favor changing health insurance companies and those who do not, albeit only in the importance of public opinion. For other components, no significant differences were found.

Use and costs of ambulatory care services among Medicare enrollees with schizophrenia.

The objective of this study was to identify predictors of the use and cost of ambulatory care services among Medicare recipients with schizophrenia. The design was a cross-sectional analysis of Medicare claims in 1991. The study subjects were a 5 percent random sample of all persons in the United States who had at least one Medicare service claim in 1991 and who were diagnosed as having schizophrenia in any care setting. Outcome measures included use and cost of any ambulatory care service, individual therapy, psychiatric somatotherapy, group therapy, or family therapy. For nearly 25 percent of the total sample of 12,440, no claims were filed for ambulatory care services in 1991. The mean+/-SD number of ambulatory care visits during the year was 7.9+/-21. The most frequently used type of therapy was individual therapy (5+/-14 visits). The mean+/-SD yearly cost of care for persons who received ambulatory care services was $470+/-$1,028. Among persons under 65 years of age, Caucasians were about 1.5 times as likely as African Americans to have received an ambulatory care service and 1.3 times as likely to have received individual therapy. Persons who were 65 or older were less likely to have received any service. Among service recipients, costs of care were lower for African Americans and for older people. The use of Medicare-funded ambulatory care services by persons with schizophrenia varied by race and age. Further investigation is required to determine whether subgroups of individuals who do not have additional insurance coverage or access to services are receiving substandard care.

Gender Differences in Satisfaction with Primary Care Physicians in a Managed Care Health Plan

ABSTRACT This study examines whether the formation of satisfaction with primary care physicians in a managed health care plan differs for men and women. Findings indicate that there are significant differences in the formation of satisfaction. For both men and women, the probability that an individual is satisfied is influenced by the type of plan enrolled in, number of problems experienced and beliefs about the quality of and access to benefits. Income and additional insurance coverage affects the probability of satisfaction for women only. Simulation analysis shows how satisfaction changes as individual characteristics and experience with managed care change.

Additional Insurance Coverage for Our Members

Additional Insurance Coverage for Our Members