Relatively little analysis has taken place internationally on the consumer-reported benefits and costs to switching insurer in multi-payer health insurance markets. Ideally, consumers should be willing to switch out of consideration for price and quality and switching should be able to take place without incurring significant switching costs. Costs to switching come in many forms and understanding the nature of these costs is necessary if policy interventions to improve market competition are to be successful. This study utilises data from consumer surveys of the Irish health insurance market collected between 2009 and 2013 (N \(=\) 1703) to examine consumer-reported benefits and costs to switching insurer. Probit regression models are specified to examine the relationship between consumer characteristics and reported switching costs, and switching behaviour, respectively. Overall evidence suggests that switchers in the Irish market mainly did so out of consideration for price. Transaction cost was the most common switching cost identified, reported by just under 1 in 7 non-switchers. Psychological switching costs may also be impacting behaviour. Moreover, high-risk individuals were more likely to experience switching costs and this was reflected in actual switching behaviour. A recent information campaign launched by the market regulator may prove beneficial in reducing perceived transaction costs in the market, however, a more focused campaign aimed at high-risk consumers may be necessary to reduce inequalities. Policy-makers should also consider the impact insurer behaviour may have on decision-making.

中文翻译：

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在爱尔兰健康保险市场中转换收益和成本：消费者调查分析。

在国际上，对于在多付款人健康保险市场上转换保险人的消费者报告的收益和成本进行的国际分析很少。理想情况下，消费者应该愿意出于价格和质量的考虑而退出，并且应该能够进行切换而不会产生大量的切换成本。转换成本有多种形式，要想成功地采取改善市场竞争的政策干预措施，就必须了解这些成本的性质。这项研究利用了2009年至2013年间对爱尔兰健康保险市场进行的消费者调查得出的数据（N \（= \）（1703）检查消费者报告给转换保险公司的收益和成本。指定了Probit回归模型来分别检验消费者特征与报告的转换成本和转换行为之间的关系。总体证据表明，爱尔兰市场的切换台主要是出于价格考虑。交易成本是确定的最常见的转换成本，在7个非转换者中，不到1个报告说。心理转换成本也可能会影响行为。此外，高风险个人更有可能经历转换成本，这反映在实际转换行为中。市场监管机构最近发起的宣传活动可能有助于降低市场上可感知的交易成本，但是，为减少不平等现象，可能有必要针对高风险消费者开展更有针对性的运动。决策者还应考虑保险人行为可能对决策产生的影响。