Woodward A
Int J Health Serv. 1978;8(3):491-507. doi: 10.2190/75KA-EK33-FX0F-0TY0.
The health insurance industry in the U.S. can be characterized as a concentrated industry. It has evolved into its current structure as a result of certain historical conditions, particularly those following the Great Depression. The structure of the industry has had an effect on the manner in which the industry functions and the cost increases in the health care sector. Specifically, the pricing mechanism is that of a price leader setting a limit price; health premium prices are higher than would be expected under a competitive structure. Regulation has been ineffective, because it has been dominated historically by health care providers and insurers. The costs of health care in general, and hospital care in particular, have increased beyond what would be expected as a result of "cost-pass-through."
美国的医疗保险行业可被视为一个集中型行业。由于某些历史条件，特别是大萧条之后的那些条件，它演变成了当前的结构。该行业的结构对行业的运作方式以及医疗保健部门的成本增加产生了影响。具体而言，定价机制是价格领导者设定限价；医疗保险费价格高于竞争结构下预期的价格。监管一直无效，因为它在历史上一直由医疗保健提供者和保险公司主导。总体而言，医疗保健成本，尤其是医院护理成本，因“成本转嫁”而超出了预期的增长幅度。
