Nonparametric Bounds on the Effect of Deductibles in Health Care Insurance on Doctor Visits – Swiss Evidence

Michael Gerfin () and Martin Schellhorn ()
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Michael Gerfin: University of Bern
Martin Schellhorn: University of Kiel

No 1616, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We evaluate the effect of the size of deductibles in the basic health insurance in Switzerland on the probability of a doctor visit. We employ nonparametric bounding techniques to minimise statistical assumptions. In order to tighten the bounds we consider three further assumptions: mean independence of an instrument, monotone treatment response, and monotone treatment selection. Under the first two assumptions we are able to bound the treatment effect of high deductibles compared to low deductibles below zero. Adding the third assumption allows to tighten the bounds further. We conclude that there is a negative treatment effect.

Keywords: health insurance; bounds; treatment effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C14 I19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 22 pages
Date: 2005-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Published - published in: Health Economics, 2006, 15 (9), 1011-1020

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Journal Article: Nonparametric bounds on the effect of deductibles in health care insurance on doctor visits – Swiss evidence (2006)
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