title: Measuring customer preferences in the German statutory health insurance.
abstract: This paper investigates consumer preferences in the German statutory health insurance market. It further aims to test whether preferences differ by age and health status. Evidence is provided by a discrete choice experiment conducted in 2014 using the six most important attributes in sickness fund competition and ten random generated choice sets per participant. Price is found to be the most important attribute followed by additional benefits, managed care programmes, and distance to nearest branch. Other positive attributes of sickness funds are found to balance out a higher price, which would allow a sickness fund to position itself as high quality. However, significant differences in preferences were found between age and health status group. In particular, compromised health is associated with higher preference for illness-related additional benefits and less distance to the lowest branch, but lower preference for a lower price. Based on these differences, a distinct sickness fund offer could be constructed that would allow passive risk selection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Gleueler Straße 176-178, 50935, Cologne, Germany. jonas.pendzialek@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonas B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pendzialek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Gleueler Straße 176-178, 50935, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Gleueler Straße 176-178, 50935, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Consumer preferences; Discrete choice experiment; Germany; Health insurance; Managed competition