Abstract
Interest in medical savings accounts (MSAs) as a potential tool to reduce healthcare costs has been widespread. A small number of countries have either implemented or run pilot programs of MSAs, and vigorous policy debates have taken place in several other countries about the potential merits of introducing MSAs as a method of paying for health care. In this paper we develop a model to assess the cost saving potential of MSAs in a publicly funded healthcare system. We assume that the public healthcare payer may choose between reimbursing healthcare expenditures through an MSA or through a form of third-party payer insurance. We use the model to identify the conditions under which MSAs may reduce costs. We illustrate using data on healthcare expenditures from Canada.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 493-513 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | International Transactions in Operational Research |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Health care
- Health insurance
- Healthcare reform
- Medical savings accounts
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Business and International Management
- Computer Science Applications
- Strategy and Management
- Management Science and Operations Research
- Management of Technology and Innovation
Cite this
Medical savings accounts : Opportunities for cost savings? / Zaric, Gregory S.; Hoch, Jeffrey S.
In: International Transactions in Operational Research, Vol. 13, No. 6, 01.01.2006, p. 493-513.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Medical savings accounts
T2 - Opportunities for cost savings?
AU - Zaric, Gregory S.
AU - Hoch, Jeffrey S
PY - 2006/1/1
Y1 - 2006/1/1
N2 - Interest in medical savings accounts (MSAs) as a potential tool to reduce healthcare costs has been widespread. A small number of countries have either implemented or run pilot programs of MSAs, and vigorous policy debates have taken place in several other countries about the potential merits of introducing MSAs as a method of paying for health care. In this paper we develop a model to assess the cost saving potential of MSAs in a publicly funded healthcare system. We assume that the public healthcare payer may choose between reimbursing healthcare expenditures through an MSA or through a form of third-party payer insurance. We use the model to identify the conditions under which MSAs may reduce costs. We illustrate using data on healthcare expenditures from Canada.
AB - Interest in medical savings accounts (MSAs) as a potential tool to reduce healthcare costs has been widespread. A small number of countries have either implemented or run pilot programs of MSAs, and vigorous policy debates have taken place in several other countries about the potential merits of introducing MSAs as a method of paying for health care. In this paper we develop a model to assess the cost saving potential of MSAs in a publicly funded healthcare system. We assume that the public healthcare payer may choose between reimbursing healthcare expenditures through an MSA or through a form of third-party payer insurance. We use the model to identify the conditions under which MSAs may reduce costs. We illustrate using data on healthcare expenditures from Canada.
KW - Health care
KW - Health insurance
KW - Healthcare reform
KW - Medical savings accounts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57349142834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=57349142834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1475-3995.2006.00560.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1475-3995.2006.00560.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:57349142834
VL - 13
SP - 493
EP - 513
JO - International Transactions in Operational Research
JF - International Transactions in Operational Research
SN - 0969-6016
IS - 6
ER -