Assessing the impact of health plan choice

Many health policy researchers have argued that increased insurance plan ch oice will enhance the efficiency of the health care system. However, relati vely little is known about plan choice and its association with insurance c overage and access to and satisfaction with health care. Using data from th e 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we find that 55 percent of workers had plan choice in that year. Approximately 26 percent of workers with cho ice obtained it through a family member. Controlling for other factors, pla n choice is associated with higher levels of employment-based insurance cov erage and a greater likelihood that workers are satisfied that their famili es' health care needs are being met.