The impact of insurance coverage on consumer utilization of health services: An exploratory study
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify how need for service, enabling factors and pre-disposing characteristics influences access to service. In addition, the authors seek to examine the moderating influence of pre-disposing variables on the relationship between insurance and health services utilization.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors utilize data from a major metropolitan hospital in the USA to test and extend the behavioral model of health care.
Findings
Results indicate that insurance and pre-disposing variables have a direct impact on type of health service utilization. However, the insurance effect is found to vary by demographic factors.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is limited to secondary data. Future work can incorporate both attitudinal and behavioral measures to obtain a more comprehensive evaluation of services access.
Practical implications
The research offers a tactical framework for management to segment consumer markets more effectively.
Social implications
Through the framework, management will have the requisite knowledge to target segmented populations based on need, insurance, and pre-disposing variables which will help improve access to services and clinical outcome.
Originality/value
The findings of this paper will serve as a basis for future research exploring the influence of insurance on access to services.
Keywords
Citation
O'Connor, G.E. (2015), "The impact of insurance coverage on consumer utilization of health services: An exploratory study", International Journal of Bank Marketing, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 276-297. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-05-2014-0061
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited