The effect of narrow provider networks on health care use

Alicia Atwood and Anthony T. Lo Sasso
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Anthony Lo Sasso

Journal of Health Economics, 2016, vol. 50, issue C, 86-98

Abstract: Network design is an often overlooked aspect of health insurance contracts. Recent policy factors have resulted in narrower provider networks. We provide plausibly causal evidence on the effect of narrow network plans offered by a large national health insurance carrier in a major metropolitan market. Our econometric design exploits the fact that some firms offer a narrow network plan to their employees and some do not. Our results show that narrow network health plans lead to reductions in health care utilization and spending. We find evidence that narrow networks save money by selecting lower cost providers into the network.

Keywords: Health insurance; Benefit design; Narrow networks; Selective contracting; Small group market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:50:y:2016:i:c:p:86-98

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2016.09.007

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