Trends in the golden state: small-group premiums rise sharply while actuarial values for individual coverage plummet.
Using multiple databases, this paper examines recent trends in the affordability and comprehensiveness of small-group and individual health insurance markets in California. Both became less affordable over the study period. In 2006, a single person age 32-52 earning the median income who purchased individual insurance spent on average 16 percent of income on premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses. For individual insurance, the share of medical expenses paid by insurance as opposed to patients declined from 2002 to 2006. In the small-group market, premiums rose more than 50 percent from 2003 to 2006, but the proportion of claims paid by insurers for a standardized population remained constant.
Gabel
Jon
J
NORC, Washington, DC, USA. Gabel-Jon@NORC.org
Pickreign
Jeremy
J
McDevitt
Roland
R
Whitmore
Heidi
H
Gandolfo
Laura
L
Lore
Ryan
R
Wilson
Katy
K
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000639:trends*; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000639:trends*; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D011243:Preferred Provider Organizations / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States