Tilburg University appoints Martin Salm as Professor of Health Economics and Applied Microeconomics

Deductibles—a portion of healthcare costs paid by patients before their insurance coverage kicks in—are part of most insurance plans. The rationale behind patient cost-sharing is simple: by shifting some of the burden of medical expenses to patients, they will have an incentive to avoid unnecessary care.  

But research on cost-sharing shows that the reality is more complex. Economist Martin Salm of the Tilburg School of Economics and Management focuses on obtaining a more precise understanding of how patients respond to cost-sharing incentives.  

Controversial topic  

“Patient cost-sharing is a controversial topic in the political debate, both in the Netherlands and in other countries,” professor Martin Salm says. “Different political parties have different ideas about patient cost-sharing.” 

“A good understanding of the consequences of alternative patient cost-sharing schemes is important for good decision making. This includes questions such as: Who benefits and who loses from a higher deductible, or how do patients’ responses to a deductible differ from responses to a no-claim refund?” 

Economic health inequality 

In addition to his work on patient cost-sharing schemes and their consequences, professor Martin Salm’s research will continue to focus on several other important questions in the field of healthcare economics. In particular, he will research the large regional disparities in healthcare costs and the complex relationship between socio-economic status and health. 

Note for the press

For more information, please contact professor Martin Salm (m.salm@tilburguniversity.edu) or get in touch with TiSEM's science communicator Laura van Gelder (l.f.vangelder@tilburguniversity.edu).