How much health insurance is enough? Revisiting the concept of underinsurance

Med Care Res Rev. 2006 Dec;63(6):663-700. doi: 10.1177/1077558706293634.

Abstract

There is little consensus on what constitutes adequate health insurance coverage. The concept of a lack of adequate coverage, or underinsurance, is a matter of ongoing debate. A measure of adequate coverage is of critical importance as the nature of health insurance products evolves. Changes to health coverage include more direct out-of-pocket spending by consumers and a reduction of covered benefits. This article updates and extends an earlier review of underinsurance measurement published in 1993. We present a conceptual approach to measuring underinsurance and provide a review of the empirical findings obtained from the application of these approaches. A discussion of the limitations in the selection of a measurement approach includes a review of the extant data sources used. We recommend a national effort to develop a consistent approach to monitor changes in the economic and structural dimensions of health insurance coverage with a concerted effort to define and measure underinsurance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Health Care Surveys*
  • Humans
  • Insurance Coverage / classification*
  • Insurance, Health*
  • United States