title: The defined-contribution paradox.
abstract: In theory, defined contributions for health insurance would free employers from having to manage their employees' insurance, and employees would acquire health insurance tailored to their own economic and health circumstances. But in practice, a move to defined contributions could be traumatic, depending on whether employers shift to a "parental" or "mature-adult" model of defined benefits.
authors.affiliation: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. reinhard@princeton.edu
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018854:Managed Competition; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020379:Risk Adjustment; D014481:United States