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Medical savings accounts: assessing their impact on efficiency, equity and financial protection in health care

Wouters, Oliver J., Cylus, Jonathan, Yang, Wei, Thomson, Sarah, McKee, Martin (2016) Medical savings accounts: assessing their impact on efficiency, equity and financial protection in health care. Health Economics, Policy and Law, . pp. 1-15. ISSN 1744-1331. E-ISSN 1744-134X. (doi:10.1017/S1744133116000025) (KAR id:54225)

Abstract

Medical savings accounts (MSAs) allow enrolees to withdraw money from earmarked funds to pay for health care. The accounts are usually accompanied by out-of-pocket payments and a high-deductible insurance plan. This article reviews the association of MSAs with efficiency, equity, and financial protection. We draw on evidence from four countries where MSAs play a significant role in the financing of health care: China, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States of America. The available evidence suggests that MSA schemes have generally been inefficient and inequitable and have not provided adequate financial protection. The impact of these schemes on long-term health-care costs is unclear. Policymakers and others proposing the expansion of MSAs should make explicit what they seek to achieve given the shortcomings of the accounts.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/S1744133116000025
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HG Finance
R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Tony Rees
Date Deposited: 17 Feb 2016 11:52 UTC
Last Modified: 29 Oct 2021 14:37 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/54225 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Yang, Wei.

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