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The Impact of Private versus Social Health Insurance on Offered Waiting Times in German Acute Care Hospitals

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Listed:
  • Schwierz, Christoph
  • Wübker, Ansgar
  • Kuchinke, Björn A.

Abstract

This paper shows that patients with private health insurance (PHI) are being offered significantly shorter waiting times than patients with statutory health insurance (SHI) in German acute hospital care. This behavior may be driven by the higher expected profitability of PHI relative to SHI holders. Further,we find that hospitals offering private insurees shorter waiting times as compared to SHI holders have a significantly better financial performance than those abstaining from or with less discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Schwierz, Christoph & Wübker, Ansgar & Kuchinke, Björn A., 2009. "The Impact of Private versus Social Health Insurance on Offered Waiting Times in German Acute Care Hospitals," Ruhr Economic Papers 120, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:120
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Private health insurance; waiting time; German acute care hospitals;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory

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