Consumers' Misunderstanding of Health Insurance

George   Loewenstein; Joelle Y. Friedman; Barbara  McGill; Sarah  Ahmad; Suzanne  Linck; Stacey  Sinkula; John  Beshears; James J. Choi; Jonathan  Kolstad; David  Laibson; Brigitte C. Madrian; John A. List; Kevin G. Volpp

Article | Journal of Health Economics

Consumers' Misunderstanding of Health Insurance

by George Loewenstein, Joelle Y. Friedman, Barbara McGill, Sarah Ahmad, Suzanne Linck, Stacey Sinkula, John Beshears, James J. Choi, Jonathan Kolstad, David Laibson, Brigitte C. Madrian, John A. List and Kevin G. Volpp

Abstract

We report results from two surveys of representative samples of Americans with private health insurance. The first examines how well Americans understand, and believe they understand, traditional health insurance coverage. The second examines whether those insured under a simplified all-copay insurance plan will be more likely to engage in cost reducing behaviors relative to those insured under a traditional plan with deductibles and coinsurance and measures consumer preferences between the two plans. The surveys provide strong evidence that consumers do not understand traditional plans and would better understand a simplified plan, but weaker evidence that a simplified plan would have strong appeal to consumers or change their healthcare choices.

Keywords: Insurance; Behavioral economics; Simplification; Insurance; Consumer Behavior; Health Care and Treatment; Cognition and Thinking; Insurance Industry; Health Industry; United States;

Format: Print

Find at Harvard Read Now

Citation:

Loewenstein, George, Joelle Y. Friedman, Barbara McGill, Sarah Ahmad, Suzanne Linck, Stacey Sinkula, John Beshears, James J. Choi, Jonathan Kolstad, David Laibson, Brigitte C. Madrian, John A. List, and Kevin G. Volpp. "Consumers' Misunderstanding of Health Insurance." Journal of Health Economics 32, no. 5 (September 2013): 850–862.

Founded in 2010, CredEx has been a fast and constant innovator in the microfinance industry in China. Tang Xia, CEO and co-founder of CredEx, has led the company through a number of profound business model innovations in response to external environment changes, which transformed the company from an offline, operation heavy micro lending company to an online, data driven FinTech company. This case describes CredEx’s business model transformation process since its founding and explores the drivers and challenges in different stages of business model innovation and transformation. Ultimately, the case highlights the key capabilities needed to digitize a traditional finance business as well as the organizational changes needed to enable the digitization.

In 2018, Magrabi was the leading retailer of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and other optical products in the Middle East, and it was embarking on a major shift in strategy, transitioning from a brand focused on clinical expertise to a brand that combined technical excellence with a luxury retail experience for customers. This case provides an opportunity to discuss the company’s plans for executing its strategy, especially when it comes to recruiting the right people and setting them up for success.

Faculty & Research

Consumers' Misunderstanding of Health Insurance

Abstract

Citation:

About the Author

More from the Author