"A disproportionate impact on health system performance Private health insurance makes a small contribution to spending on health in most countries around the world, but its effect on health system performance can be surprisingly large owing to market failures and weaknesses in public policy....

Can private health insurance fill gaps in publicly financed coverage? Does it enhance access to health care or improve efficiency in health service delivery? Will it provide fiscal relief for governments struggling to raise public revenue for health? This book examines the successes, failures...