Private health insurance and public expenditures in Jamaica

Type Journal Article - Journal of Econometrics
Title Private health insurance and public expenditures in Jamaica
Author(s)
Volume 77
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 1997
Page numbers 237 -
URL http://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeeeconom/v_3a77_3ay_3a1997_3ai_3a1_3ap_3a237-257.htm
Abstract
Many governments who have large public health care systems are looking for means to reduce the public's financial burden. One approach is to increase reliance on private health care delivery through expanded private insurance coverage. Using data from Jamaica, we estimate models of the demand for medical care. We find that insurance does induce individuals to opt out of the public sector in favor of the higher-quality private sector, thereby reducing total public expenditures on health care. Moreover, since insurance is concentrated among the upper income groups, expanded insurance coverage better targets public expenditures to the poor.

Related studies

»
»