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Regulating private health insurance to serve the public interest: policy issues for developing countries
Author(s) -
Sekhri Neelam,
Savedoff William
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.857
Subject(s) - business , health policy , equity (law) , public economics , health insurance , private sector , insurance policy , health care , self insurance , income protection insurance , health equity , economic growth , economics , actuarial science , political science , law
Private health insurance plays a large and increasing role around the world. This paper reviews international experiences and shows that private health insurance is significant in countries with widely different income levels and health system structures. It contrasts trends in private health insurance expansion across regions and highlights countries with particularly important experiences of private coverage. It then discusses the regulatory approaches and policies that can structure private health insurance markets in ways that mobilize resources for health care, promote financial risk protection, protect consumers and reduce inequities. The paper argues that policy makers need to confront the role that private health insurance will play in their health systems and regulate the sector appropriately so that it serves public goals of universal coverage and equity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.