Dear all,
LSE Health and Social Care Discussion Paper 3 has now been published.
The Determinants of Private Medical Insurance Prevalence in England
By Derek R. King and Elias Mossialos
LSE Health and Social Care, London School of Economics and Political Science
ISBN [0 7530 1568 4]
* Abstract
At the end of the year 2000, 6.88 million people in the UK (approximately 11.5% of the population) were covered by Private Medical Insurance (PMI). The aim of this paper is to examine possible determinants of the prevalence of PMI in England by using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) 1997-1999, the Department of Health and Laing's Healthcare Market Review 1999-2000.. The BHPS is suitable for analyses of the determinants of PMI prevalence in England as individual respondents are followed over time, and thus changes that take place over time are incorporated in the analysis of associations between potential determinants and PMI coverage. The analysis also incorporates NHS waiting times data and data on potential supply-side factors. The results support the conclusion that income, age and political affiliation are key determinants of PMI prevalence. These variables repeatedly exhibit statistical significance in analyses of the determinants of PMI prevalence. The results also suggest that individuals reflect on prior information with regards to waiting times in deciding whether or not to purchase PMI cover. Also, the withdrawal of the tax subsidy to PMI subscribers over 60 years of age did not impact on their rate of withdrawal from PMI coverage relative to the rate amongst all PMI subscribers, but may have discouraged potential new subscribers.
* Availability
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