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Eur J Health Econ. 2017 Jul;18(6):773-785. doi: 10.1007/s10198-016-0827-9. Epub 2016 Sep 20.
Although medical savings accounts (MSAs) have drawn intensive attention across the world for their potential in cost control, there is limited evidence of their impact on the demand for health care. This paper is intended to fill that gap. First, we built up a dynamic model of a consumer's problem of utility maximization in the presence of a nonlinear price schedule embedded in an MSA. Second, the model was implemented using data from a 2-year MSA pilot program in China. The estimated price elasticity under MSAs was between -0.42 and -0.58, i.e., higher than that reported in the literature. The relatively high price elasticity suggests that MSAs as an insurance feature may help control costs. However, the long-term effect of MSAs on health costs is subject to further analysis.
虽然医疗储蓄账户 (MSAs) 因其在成本控制方面的潜力而在全球范围内引起了广泛关注，但关于其对医疗保健需求影响的证据有限。本文旨在填补这一空白。首先，我们建立了一个在 MSA 中嵌入非线性价格表的消费者效用最大化问题的动态模型。其次，该模型使用来自中国为期两年的 MSA 试点计划的数据进行了实施。在 MSA 下估计的价格弹性在-0.42 到-0.58 之间，即高于文献中的报告值。较高的价格弹性表明，MSAs 作为一种保险特征可能有助于控制成本。然而，MSAs 对医疗费用的长期影响还需要进一步分析。
