title: Consumer price sensitivity in Dutch health insurance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the price sensitivity of consumer choice of health insurance firm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using paneldata of the flows of insured between pairs of Dutch sickness funds during the period 1993-2002, we estimate the sensitivity of these flows to differences in insurance premium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The price elasticity of residual demand for health insurance was low during the period 1993-2002, confirming earlier findings based on annual changes in market share. We find small but significant elasticities for basic insurance but insignificant elasticities for supplementary insurance. Young enrollees are more price sensitive than older enrollees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Competition was weak in the market for health insurance during the period under study. For the market-based reforms that are currently under way, this implies that measures to promote competition in the health insurance industry may be needed.
authors: Central Planning Bureau, P.O. Box 80510, 2508 GM The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors: Machiel
authors: M
authors: van Dijk
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Pomp
authors: Rudy
authors: R
authors: Douven
authors: Trea
authors: T
authors: Laske-Aldershof
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Schut
authors: Willem
authors: W
authors: de Boer
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: de Boo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D004465:Economic Competition; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D018854:Managed Competition / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D009426:Netherlands; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000191:economics