The role of health insurance literacy in the process and outcomes of choosing a health insurance policy in the Netherlands

Abstract

In several countries, citizens are expected to be critical consumers when choosing a health insurance policy. However, there are indications that citizens do not always have the sufficient skills, so called health insurance literacy (HIL), to do this. We investigated whether the level of HIL among Dutch citizens is related to the way in which they experience the process of choosing a policy, and furthermore whether it is related to their health insurance choices. We obtained information by sending questionnaires to members of the Nivel Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel in 2020. Of the 1,500 approached, 806 panel members participated (response rate 54%). Our results indicate that, compared to those with a high HIL, respondents with a low HIL more often find choosing a health insurance policy difficult, not interesting, and boring, and less often consider it important and worthwhile. Furthermore, they make less use of the opportunity to switch from one health insurer to another. However, they do still opt for a supplementary insurance policy and a voluntary deductible to the same extent as citizens with a high HIL. We conclude that the HIL level among Dutch citizens is related to the way in which they experience the process of choosing a health insurance policy and to the extent to which they switch from one insurer to another. But it is not related to their health insurance choices. Follow-up research should focus on how citizens with a low HIL can be better supported when choosing a health insurance policy.

Public Health Insurance Status and Utilization of Healthcare Services Across India: A Narrative Review

“…It appears that residents with a lower HIL have a harder time locating a good health insurance provider. This highlights the need to research the idea of health insurance coverage in other countries where people are expected to actively participate in selecting a health insurance plan [ 12 ]. As per the study by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Execution, Government of India, India's literacy rate for the 2020-21 fiscal year is 77.7% [ 13 ].…”