Insurance Benefits Research Articles

The Conditionality of Political Short‐Termism: A Review of Empirical and Experimental Studies

Political short-termism prioritizes short-term net policy benefits over long-term benefits and thus can hinder policy investments that impose short-term costs to society to address long-term policy challenges. This literature review explores when political short-termism can be driven and mitigated in a democratic system by reviewing empirical and experimental studies and identifying the various factors that can influence policy investments: elections, economic conditions, power-sharing arrangements, partisanship, the presence of compensation schemes, and media coverage among politicians; discounts of future policy benefits, policy trade-offs, political ideology, and socioeconomic and demographic factors among voters; and compliance costs, power-sharing arrangements, compensations, and long-term political signaling from governments among special interest groups. Finally, I discuss the findings and provide suggestions for future research.

Abstract PO4-10-02: Implementing Just ASK™ to achieve diverse participation and representation in a RCT of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Abstract Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting complication of cancer treatment which disproportionally affects Black patients, and can negatively impact survival and quality of life. Strategies to improve diverse participation and representation in clinical trials are necessary to reduce this health disparity. Methods: To ensure diverse representation in our RCT of CBD vs placebo in patients with grade 2-3 CIPN after treatment with taxane or platinum-based chemotherapy, key evidence-based strategies outlined in the ASCO-ACCC Just ASK™ Training Program were implemented. Eligibility criteria were as inclusive as possible, including CIPN duration up to 2 years and a range of diagnoses: nonmetastatic breast, colorectal, endometrial; and ovarian cancer. Few comorbidities were excluded. The diverse research team engaged every potentially eligible patient with the opportunity to make an informed decision to participate in the study. Using an assets-based approach, the team assessed and addressed social drivers of health (SDoH) and built trust by providing transparency, timely access to all team members, flexible study visits (including telemedicine), and study materials which were comprehensive, understandable, and accessible, within a culture of respect for patient autonomy and privacy. Results: Between 6/1/2020 and 8/8/2022, 230 patients were prescreened, 124 met eligibility, 54 consented and joined, and 46 completed ≥8 of the 12-week treatment phase and were included in the analysis. The study successfully enrolled a participant population that was 30% Black and 67% White (Table), reflecting community demographics of the enrolling facility. Attrition was lower than expected (15% vs 30% assumed in statistical plan) and only 5 of 425 planned study visits for the 46-patient cohort were missed. The most effective strategy to achieve diverse participation was prescreening the electronic medical record (EMR) with daily Epic® and OncoEMR® queries (DQ) by a research assistant. DQ allowed all potentially eligible patients to be approached to participate and yielded about half of enrollees. Also key to success were engaged study champions among medical oncology fellows, oncology nurses, nurse navigators, clinical research coordinators, and research-oriented attending physicians. Some physician referrals were facilitated by the ease of secured texts and EMR messages, and peer recognition; however, few referrals came from non-research-oriented physicians. Eleven of the 54 consented patients were identified to have essential needs and received facilitated social work assistance, including psychosocial support, financial assistance (for monetary grants for direct expenses or access to medical insurance and other benefits); and support for transportation, nutrition; child and eldercare. Of the 11 patients with essential needs, 4 were unable to complete the study due to either personal (3) or medical issues (1). Conclusions: The ASCO-ACCC Just ASK™ approach was successful for diverse clinical trial enrollment with strong protocol adherence and low attrition. Key steps included: study team diversity, a culture of respect and transparency, EMR prescreening, SDoH assessment and solutions, and engagement of research-oriented study champions. As achieving diverse participation in clinical trials is essential to reducing health disparities, the Just ASK™ approach should be considered an essential aspect of clinical trial design and implementation. Table. Baseline Characteristics Total n = 46 Age (Mean/SD) 59.6 (8.8) Gender Male 5 (10.9%) Female 41 (89.1%) Race White 31 (67.4%) Black 14 (30.4%) Other 1 (2.2%) Ethnicity Hispanic 2 (4.4%) Not Hispanic 44 (95.6%) Cancer Type Breast 29 (63.0%) Colo-rectal 9 (19.6%) Ovarian 7 (15.2%) Uterine 1 (2.2%) Citation Format: Marisa Weiss, Muath Giaddui, Stephanie Kjelstrom, Arezoo Ghaneie, Jennifer Hong, Jessica Burrell, Sarah Windawi, Ebuwa Erebor, Barry Mann, Shonalie Roberts, Gabrielle Bidas, Sam Meske, Lisa Saeed, Katherine Aliano Ruiz, Juliana Hibbs, John Marks, David Holtz, Zonera Ali, Aarthi Shevade, Robin Ciocca, Paul Gilman, Sharon Larson, Shoichi Shimamoto, Diana Martinez, Fumiko Chino, Nadine Barrett. Implementing Just ASK™ to achieve diverse participation and representation in a RCT of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-10-02.

Mentoring in education: an analysis of international practices and their implementation in Russia

Introduction. In the context of an ongoing discussion about the necessity to enhance the institution of mentoring in Russia, the examination and critical analysis of the experiences of countries where the system of mentoring for novice teachers is regulated at the state level is of undeniable interest. Aim. The study aimed to identify the main features of mentoring in France and determine the potential for applying international experience in the Russian educational system. Methodology and research methods. The research employed the following methods: an analysis of pedagogical literature and normative documents in the field of education in France, and a questionnaire survey of novice teachers working as trainee teachers in primary schools in Paris. As a survey technique, a continuous online survey with a group was employed. Results and scientific novelty. The process of becoming a fully qualified lower primary teacher in France is outlined: it involves passing a competitive examination (CRPE) and successfully completing a probation period. During this probation period, candidates are required to work for one year in a school as a trainee teacher under the guidance of mentor teachers. The research focuses on mentoring practices in France, the pathways to becoming a new teacher mentor, their job requirements, professional training, certification processes, as well as their roles and responsibilities. Based on the results of a survey of trainee teachers, a social profile of a novice teacher in France was created. The main challenges and shortcomings of the participants were identified, and their interactions with mentors were analysed. The collected data enabled the authors to emphasise the benefits of the French education policy regarding entry into the teaching profession and to formulate recommendations for mentor selection and training in Russia. Practical significance. The content of the article will be beneficial for specialists in the field of comparative education and for members of the scientific and pedagogical community engaged in teacher training programmes.

Exploring the Impact of Quantitative Easing Policy on the Business Performance of Construction Companies with the Debt Ratio as a Moderator

During the 2008 financial crisis, central banks (such as the Fed) adopted a quantitative easing (QE) policy to stimulate their countries’ economies and overcome severe economic and financial recessions. However, apart from stimulating the economy by issuing a substantial amount of currency to purchase long-term bonds and suppress interest rates, QE policy also contributed to a boom in the real estate and construction sectors. Therefore, this study employs data envelopment analysis to measure the business performance (BP) of construction companies, and explore the impact of QE policy on the BP of construction companies, between 2004 and 2015, using hierarchical regression. We also examine the moderating role of the debt ratio on the relationship. Focused on publicly listed construction companies in Taiwan, this research reveals three encouraging findings. Firstly, QE policy indeed enhanced the BP of Taiwanese construction companies. Secondly, performance improvements in construction companies due to QE policy show a time-diminishing trend, suggesting the importance of seizing the initial policy benefits of QE implementation. Lastly, construction companies with appropriate financial leverage may exhibit better BP. These findings can provide valuable insights for relevant government entities and decision-makers in the industry for policy and investment decisions.

Research on the Optimal Pricing for Life Insurance

Term life insurance is a policy that guarantees the buyer of the policy insurance benefit upon their death for a period of time in exchange for a premium paid by the insurance buyer to the seller yearly for a set number of years. Purchasing life insurance has become an important, if not necessary, financial investment in everyones life, as it protects their family from a potentially devastating financial loss if they unexpectedly pass away. This paper combined multiple variables in order to compute a pricing formula for life insurance. The final result is that as the age of purchase increases, the premium, or, in other words, the price of the life insurance using my pricing formula, increases exponentially, while the profit received decreases exponentially.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment in working-age adults: Implications for employment, health insurance coverage, andfinancial hardship in the United States.

The rising costs of cancer care and subsequent medical financial hardship for cancer survivors and families are well documented in the United States. Less attention has been paid to employment disruptions and loss of household income after a cancer diagnosis and during treatment, potentiallyresulting in lasting financial hardship, particularly for working-age adults not yet age-eligible for Medicare coverage and their families. In this article, the authors use a composite patient case to illustrate the adverse consequences of cancer diagnosis and treatment for employment, health insurance coverage, household income, and other aspects of financial hardship. They summarize existing research and provide nationally representative estimates of multiple aspects of financial hardship and health insurance coverage, benefit design, and employee benefits, such as paid sick leave, among working-age adults with a history of cancer and compare them with estimates among working-age adults without a history of cancer from the most recently available years of the National Health Interview Survey (2019-2021). Then, the authors identify opportunities for addressing employment and health insurance coverage challenges at multiple levels, including federal, state, and local policies; employers; cancer care delivery organizations; and nonprofit organizations. These efforts, when informed by research to identify best practices, can potentially help mitigate the financial hardship associated with cancer.

Effectiveness of environmental protection expenditures and resource tax policy in the Netherland's load capacity factor: Do government effectiveness and renewable energy matter? Evidence from Fourier augmented ARDL

Several environmental policy actions are taken nationally and internationally to tackle environmental problems and ensure environmental sustainability. In this context, the importance of public economic instruments emerges. The Netherlands follows a stricter environmental protection expenditure and resource tax policy than the OECD and EU countries. Starting from this perspective, we investigate the effect of environmental protection expenditures, resource tax, government effectiveness, economic growth, and renewable energy on the load capacity factor in the Netherlands using data from 1996 to 2021. Methodologically, a Fourier-based econometric methodology is followed. The findings imply that environmental protection expenditures and resource tax implemented in the Netherlands are effective policies for ensuring environmental sustainability. Similarly, renewable energy policies and the level of government effectiveness contribute positively to environmental sustainability. Finally, economic growth negatively affects environmental sustainability by increasing environmental pressure. We subjected the findings to robustness analysis using Fourier-based methods and found that the findings were valid. To maximize the benefits of policies (resource tax and environmental protection expenditure), policymakers should make commitments to the use of the revenue generated and center efforts to build biocapacity on green technological innovations.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF RECEIVING SOCIAL INSURANCE ONCE IN VIETNAM

Objective: Social insurance policies have played a crucial role as a cornerstone in the social security system, contributing positively to social stability and the realization of goals for a prosperous, strong, fair, democratic, and civilized society. The current legal framework on social insurance in Vietnam stipulates provisions to ensure the rights of workers in all cases, including regulations regarding one-time social insurance cases. Although the significance of receiving one-time social insurance aligns with the legal provisions for each case, the lack of understanding among workers regarding the significance of social insurance policies or their deliberate acceptance of one-time social insurance can have unpredictable consequences for society, the social insurance system, and the workers themselves... The study builds on the situation of receiving social insurance in Vietnam and makes a case study of consequences for once workers receive social insurance suggesting solutions to mitigate the situation.   Method: The study is based on a method to collect secondary data on the status of social insurance once received in Vietnam through data channels. This data is presented and analyzed by the descriptive statistical method (mainly in the form of tables and charts) that will see the situation for receiving social insurance once in Vietnam over time. In order to conduct the research, the method applied in this article is a qualitative method including: The systematic approach to the research materials, legal regulations related to the research; The integrated analysis method is used to analyze and synthesize the situation of receiving social insurance once in Vietnam; The objective methodology is used by the author to argue, the views of the individual, along with the combination of perspectives of other studies of nature to make a broad consensus about a particular problem.   Results: The results of the study show that although social insurance policies were established to protect workers from income risk, they can lead a stable future life. Rules on one-off social insurance regimes can help resolve many special cases of workers. However, research shows that the number of people who choose to receive social insurance in Vietnam in the period of 2014-2023 has increased greatly. The increase of the number of people who receive social insurance once means the increase in the number of people leaving the system, making it difficult to achieve the goal of universal social insurance coverage in the spirit of resolution No. 28-NQ/TW of the XII Central Committee. Actual data suggest that on average 1 new person is entering social insurance, there is 1 old person leaving the system. The number of people withdrawn the following year was always higher than the previous year with an average annual increase of about 10%. The proportion of workers that have returned from social insurance benefits to continue their low participation in social insurance. In the period of 2016-2022, the country had more than 4.8 million workers requesting and resolving social insurance once. After receiving social insurance coverage once, approximately 1.3 million people returned to continue the social insurance penetration. Thus, the proportion of workers who have been remarried to social insurance benefits is 26%, and the remaining 74% of those who have received social insurance benefits once, corresponding to about 3.5 million who do not return to social insurance contributions, meaning that they are not guaranteed short-term benefits in the process of continuing labor such as sickness, maternity, occupational accidents, unemployment and long-term retirement.   Conclusion: Receiving one-time social insurance benefits of workers will have some consequences for the social insurance system, for Society and Workers in the current context of Vietnam population aging trends lead to the number of people who do not have a monthly pension in Vietnam accounting for a large proportion of approximately 10 million people, this shows that the lack of sustainability of the Social Security system in general creates pressure for the community and the workers themselves will not be protected from the immediate benefits and long-term social insurance system.

Does the increase in health insurance benefits have different effects on the health of middle-aged and older people individuals in rural areas? Analysis based on quantile difference-in-differences method.

In the context of healthy aging, enhancing health performance is an intrinsic requirement for the development and reform of the health insurance system. This paper mainly discusses the health effects of increasing medical insurance benefits on people with different levels of health. So this paper utilizes multiple rounds of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and employs the quantile difference-in-differences method to systematically investigate the impact effects of the integration of urban and rural residents' health insurance on the frailty levels of rural middle-aged and older people individuals. The research findings are as follows: Firstly, the integration of urban and rural resident health insurance has mitigated the frailty level of rural older people individuals, with a more pronounced impact on those with poorer health statuses. Secondly, in terms of heterogeneity analysis, the health performance effects of the urban-rural health insurance integration policy are more significant among the older people population and in the western regions. Thirdly, the integration of urban and rural resident health insurance primarily improves health by reducing the burden of medical expenses, with a greater impact on the older people population with poorer health statuses. Based on the research findings, we recommend addressing the disparities in healthcare benefits across various insurance systems, alleviating the financial burden of healthcare for impoverished individuals, and consistently improving the coordination of healthcare insurance policies for both urban and rural residents.

IJCM_237A: Assessment of out-of-pocket expenditure amongst admitted patients in a tertiary care centre of Maharashtra: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In India, financing health-care majorly constitutes out-of-pocket expenditure. Health expenditure in India accounts for Objectives: 1. To assess the total out-of-pocket expenditure of patients due to current illness. 2. To assess out-of-pocket health expenditures in a single episode of illness in families of different socio-economic strata. 3. To study association between various specialities and direct out-of-pocket health expenditure incurred after admission. 4. To find the percentage of patients getting benefit of state government health insurance (MJPJAY). Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 233 patients (or care-takers) admitted in a tertiary-care centre, using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire in local language. Expenditures before and after admission (=3 days) due to current illness was documented. Enrolment for MJPJAY benefit was recorded. The data was compiled in MS-excel and analysed using SPSS. Results: The median out-of-pocket expenditure for the current illness was Rs.2935 (IQR: Rs.1375 to Rs.8508.75). The median out-of-pocket expenditure in the IVth and Vth social classes according to Modified B.G. Prasad classification, is Rs.3715(IQR: Rs1925 to Rs.9060) and Rs.5210(IQR: Rs.2917 to Rs.8350) respectively. 12.43% (excluding obstetric) patients were enrolled for benefit of MJPJAY at the time of study. Conclusion: The out-of-pocket expenditure is found to be high among the patients studied, especially, among those choosing to visit private health facilities pre-admission. Post-admission, as the direct expenditure was more than indirect in most cases, the underlying causes may be unavailability of drugs and investigations required for management. MJPJAY benefits are received post diagnosis, therefore pre-diagnostic investigations contribute to high out-of-pocket expenses. Further studies are required to evaluate the preference towards private health facility.

Perceptions of a reduced nicotine policy and predictors of policy support: A nationally representative U.S. survey

BackgroundThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering a policy to reduce nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels. Although current evidence supports the public-health benefits of a reduced-nicotine policy, almost half of people who smoke (~ 40%) do not support the policy. This study estimates the factors most strongly associated with support or opposition toward the policy, including tobacco use status, perceived effects of a reduced nicotine policy, trust in the FDA, and psychological distress. The study aims to inform messaging campaigns and policy makers. MethodsData were collected in 2021 with nationally representative samples of U.S. adults (n = 1763). After receiving information about the reduced nicotine policy, participants indicated their beliefs and support for or opposition to the policy, along with other individual difference characteristics. Univariate population parameters and multinomial logistic regression coefficients were estimated. ResultsIn adjusted models, people who formerly or never smoked were less likely to oppose the policy compared to those who currently smoke; people with higher psychological distress and those who believe the policy will promote switching to e-cigarettes were more likely to oppose the policy. In addition, people were more likely to support the policy if they believed it would make quitting easier or that the FDA is trustworthy. ConclusionsEducational campaigns about reduced nicotine policy should expect higher impact by targeting prevalent perceptions and those more strongly associated with policy sentiment. In anticipation of the policy rollout, there may be a critical window to shape public opinion.

The Effects and Benefits of a Latent Print AFIS Deferral Policy

Forensic laboratories in the United States had an estimated backlog of 570,100 requests for all forensic services at the end of 2014. Latent print requests represented approximately 12% of that total backlog [1, NIJ 2019]. With ever-increasing demands and backlogs, a review of laboratory or section practices becomes vital to operations. Work process and business practice changes can increase efficiencies and result in the reduction of casework backlogs and turnaround times. The automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) deferral policy implemented by the Latent Print Comparative Section (LPCS) of the Phoenix Police Department Laboratory Services Bureau (PPD LSB) was employed to address the latent print backlog. Five years of multiple AFIS request types were analyzed to demonstrate the positive effects and benefits of such policies, including a 26.32% decrease in turnaround time over the data collection and analysis period and a 90.96% reduction in backlogged requests for one year.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefit Generosity and Labor Supply from 2002 to 2020: Evidence from California UI Records

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefit Generosity and Labor Supply from 2002 to 2020: Evidence from California UI Records

Optimizing Healthcare Finance: A Predictive Modeling Approach to Medical Insurance Premium

Abstract: This research delves into optimizing healthcare finance through predictive modeling to forecast medical insurance premiums accurately. By harnessing a robust dataset and integrating advanced analytics, this study meticulously constructs models that allow insurance companies to price their policies competitively, ensuring both profitability and fairness. Employing a variety of machine learning algorithms, including linear regression, decision trees, random forests, and gradient boosting, we thoroughly assess the influence of critical factors such as age, BMI, gender, and regional healthcare costs on premium costs. Our analysis not only showcases the precision of predictive modeling in refining insurance pricing strategies and risk management but also illuminates its broader implications for the healthcare insurance sector. By systematically exploring the factors affecting premiums, identifying the most efficacious modeling techniques, and delineating the potential benefits for insurers and policyholders, this paper significantly contributes to the ongoing discourse on leveraging data-driven approaches to enhance the insurance industry's operational efficiency and promote equitable access to healthcare coverage.

Strategic Press Release When Employee Unemployment Risk Is Better Insured

Using the staggered changes in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits across states in the United States as an exogenous shock to employees’ costs of unemployment and the hiring firm’s costs of disclosure, this study investigates whether and how a firm’s relationship with its employees impacts its strategic disclosure through press releases. We find that firms increase (reduce) bad (good) press releases after their employees’ UI benefits become more generous. This finding is consistent with the notion that larger UI benefits reduce the costs of employee unemployment risk borne by hiring firms and thus reduce firms’ costs to release bad news items. Interestingly, we find that the large increase in UI benefits is associated with more discretionary, but not nondiscretionary, bad press releases. The findings are robust when we exclude earnings-related press releases from our sample. Further evidence shows that the increase in negative press releases is mainly driven by news regarding earnings, products-services, marketing, credit ratings, assets, and legal issues, which are more closely related to employee perceptions of unemployment risk. JEL classification: G10; M41; J31; J65.

Enhancing Risk Management Strategies: GAM Analysis of Health Insurance Claim Determinants

Health insurance plays a crucial role in providing financial protection and ensuring access to necessary healthcare services. The awareness of Indonesian society regarding the importance of health insurance continues to grow, as evidenced by a 22% increase in premium income according to AAJI data as of March 2023. Despite the benefits of health insurance, an increasing number of insurance participants raises risks for insurance companies. The Generalized Additive Models (GAM) P-Spline can overcome these problems. The non-linear relationship between claim amount with age, body mass index, and blood pressure can be modelled with GAM P-Spline. The formed GAM model with PIRLS unable to give a clear information of relationship between variables explicitly, but can be seen by the shape of the function of each predictor associated with the link function used.

Research on Critical Factors in University-Corporation Social Responsibility

Abstract This study investigated three factors of strategic philanthropy, social impact, and social participation in university-corporation joint implementation of social responsibility. This study employed Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to systematically analyze complex issues of social responsibility. The participants included enterprise and university staff who used to carry out social responsibility projects, and 20 valid questionnaires were collected. Synthesized critical factors from literature included policy benefit, social impact, and community participation, which were further divided into five sub-phases, including fifteen criteria in total. Finally, based on the importance, factors that influenced university and corporate joint implementation of social responsibility were ranked and discussed on their priority. This study expects to provide practical suggestions to university and corporate joint implementation of social responsibility projects. Keywords: Strategic philanthropy, Social impact, Community participation, University social responsibility, Corporate social responsibility.

IBCA: An Intelligent Platform for Social Insurance Benefit Qualification Status Assessment

Social insurance benefits qualification assessment is an important task to ensure that retirees enjoy their benefits according to the regulations. It also plays a key role in curbing social security frauds. In this paper, we report the deployment of the Intelligent Benefit Certification and Analysis (IBCA) platform, an AI-empowered platform for verifying the status of retirees to ensure proper dispursement of funds in Shandong province, China. Based on an improved Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) neural network, IBCA aggregates missing value interpolation, temporal information, and global and local feature extraction to perform accurate retiree survival rate prediction. Based on the predicted results, a reliability assessment mechanism based on Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE) and Monte-Carlo Dropout (MC Dropout) is executed to perform reliability assessment. Deployed since November 2019, the IBCA platform has been adopted by 12 cities across the Shandong province, handling over 50 terabytes of data. It has empowered human resources and social services, civil affairs, and health care institutions to collaboratively provide high-quality public services. Under the IBCA platform, the efficiency of resources utilization as well as the accuracy of benefit qualification assessment have been significantly improved. It has helped Dareway Software Co. Ltd earn over RMB 50 million of revenue.

Harms and Benefits Inventory (HBI): initial validation of a novel assessment of perceived harms and benefits of firearm policies and practices

IntroductionUnderstanding gun owners’ perceptions of potential firearm policies’ harms and benefits is critical to successful policy development and implementation. We used national survey data to develop and validate a novel...

Inference on Conditional Quantile Processes in Partially Linear Models with Applications to the Impact of Unemployment Benefits

Abstract We propose methods to estimate and make inferences on conditional quantile processes for models with both nonparametric and (locally or globally) linear components. We derive their asymptotic properties, optimal bandwidths, and uniform confidence bands over quantiles allowing for robust bias correction. Our framework covers the sharp regression discontinuity design, which is used to study the effects of unemployment insurance benefits extensions, focusing on heterogeneity over quantiles and covariates. We show economically strong effects in the tails of the outcome distribution. They reduce the within-group inequality, but can be viewed as enhancing between-group inequality, although they help to bridge the gender gap.