Abstract
Background: In a health insurance system based on managed competition, such as in the Netherlands, it is important that all citizens can make well-informed decisions on which policy fits their needs and preferences best. However, partly due to the large variety of health insurance policies, there are indications that a significant group of citizens do not make rational decisions when choosing a policy.
Objective: This study aimed to provide more insight into (1) how important it is for citizens in the Netherlands to choose a health insurance policy and (2) how easy it is for them to comprehend the information they receive.
Methods: Data were collected by sending a survey to members of the Nivel Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel in February 2017. The response rate was 44% (N = 659). Key
Results: Our results indicate that citizens in the Netherlands acknowledge the importance of choosing a health insurance policy, but they also point out that it is difficult to comprehend health insurance information.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a section of the citizens do not have the appropriate skills to decide which insurance policy best fits their needs and preferences. Having better insight into their level of health insurance literacy is an important step in the process of evaluating the extent to which citizens can fulfill their role in the health insurance system. Our results suggest that it is important to better tailor information on health insurances to the specific needs and skills of the individual. By doing this, citizens will be better supported in making well-informed decisions regarding health insurance policies, which should have a positive effect on the functioning of the Dutch health insurance system. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(4):e287-e294.] Plain Language Summary: The number of health insurance policy options to choose from is extensive in the Netherlands. This study explored to what extent citizens in the Netherlands find it important to choose a health insurance policy, and to what extent they comprehend the information they receive. The data were collected in 2017 using the Nivel Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel. Several countries have a health insurance system based ability of health care in the Netherlands. Therefore, sevon managed competition (Cabiedes & Guillén, 2001; eral safeguards are set by the government in to regulate Mossialos et al., 2016; Shmueli et al., 2015) in which varithe health insurance system. For example, it is mandatory ous private health insurers offer insurance policies to citifor all citizens in the Netherlands to have a basic insurzens. The idea behind managed competition is that health ance policy, the government determines the basic insurinsurers compete for the enrollment of citizens, which ance policy coverage, and health insurers accept all applishould stimulate them to provide good quality of care for cants for their basic insurance policies. Table A con