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Universal Public Health Insurance and Private Coverage: Externalities in Health Care Consumption

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  • Sherry Glied

Abstract

Inequality in access to health care services, through private purchase, appears to pose policy challenges grea ter than inequality in other spheres. This paper explores how inequality in access to health care services relates to social welfare. I examine the sources of private demand for health insurance and the ramifications of this demand for health, for patterns of government spending on health care services, and for individual and social well-being. Finally, I consider a novel policy approach to addressing the externalities of health service consumption. Keywords: private health insurance, public choice theory, equity, health care financing

Suggested Citation

  • Sherry Glied, 2008. "Universal Public Health Insurance and Private Coverage: Externalities in Health Care Consumption," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 34(3), pages 345-358, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpp:issued:v:34:y:2008:i:3:p:345-358
    DOI: 10.3138/cpp.34.3.345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Leiter & Engelbert Theurl, 2012. "The convergence of health care financing structures: empirical evidence from OECD-countries," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 13(1), pages 7-18, February.
    2. Enkai Guo & Huamei Zhong & Yang Gao & Jing Li & Zhaohong Wang, 2022. "Socioeconomic Disparities in Health Care Consumption: Using the 2018-China Family Panel Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Omar Paccagnella & Vincenzo Rebba & Guglielmo Weber, 2013. "VOLUNTARY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AMONG THE OVER 50s IN EUROPE," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(3), pages 289-315, March.

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