Doctor switching costs

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Public Economics
Year: 2023
Volume: 221
Issue: C

Authors (2)

Dahl, Gordon B. (not in RePEc) Forbes, Silke J. (Tufts University)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We exploit a quasi-random health insurance experiment which for some employees increased the price to keep their doctors between $600 to $1900 per year, while holding all other insurance plan characteristics constant. Our setting allows us to identify doctor switching costs separately from inattention, option value and other characteristics. Forty-six percent of individuals are willing to pay the higher premiums to keep their doctors, and these doctor switching costs account for the largest share of inertia in plan choice. Our findings imply that older and sicker individuals would be more negatively impacted by reforms which restrict access to doctors.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:pubeco:v:221:y:2023:i:c:s0047272723000403
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25