Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: With the law on healthcare insurance that took effect on 1 January 2006, the Netherlands implemented a new privatised yet highly supervised system. Although it is not as yet possible to measure the effects of this reform on controlling healthcare expenditures, we can attempt to give a preliminary assessment through a secondary analysis of the first Dutch studies available. It reached its goal in terms of universal coverage. But in terms of equality, the system of fiscal allowances only compensates for social inequalities in healthcare insurance insofar as basic coverage, making it crucial to define the basket of care. As for the way in which the new healthcare insurance market functions, the first observations incite modesty. Competition comes first in pricing and the insurers have hardly developed managed care. Policyholders, having had trouble finding their way in the market, are not very mobile. Although the legislative measures do not allow risk selection for base insurance, this is not the case for supplementary insurance, which is often proposed in conjunction with basic insurance, which can lead to indirect selection. But the law has reinforced the power of patients’ associations, which seem to be very influential.
Authors: Jacqueline Delbecq, Florence Weber
Language: French
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4253206042