Abstract
Tiered and narrow provider networks are mechanisms implemented by health plans to reduce health care costs. The benefits of narrow networks for consumers usually come in the form of lower premiums in exchange for access to fewer providers. Narrow networks may disrupt continuity of care and access to usual sources of care. We examine choices of health plans in a private health insurance exchange where consumers choose among one broad network and four narrow network plans. Using a discrete choice model with repeated choices, we estimate the willingness to pay for a health plan that covers consumers’ usual sources of care. Willingness to pay for a network that covers consumers’ usual source of care is between $84 and $275/month (for primary care) and between $0 and $115/month (for specialists). We find that, given that a network covers their usual source of care, consumers show aversion only to the narrowest networks.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 90-97 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Health Economics |
| Volume | 60 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from AHRQ grant R01HS022881 . The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of AHRQ. Any remaining errors are the responsibility of the authors. The authors want to thank the participants in the 2017 Midwest Health Economics Conference and the narrow network sessions at the 2017 AcademyHealth, APPAM, and IHEA conferences.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
- Discrete choice
- Narrow networks
- Willingness to pay