Thomas Buchmueller
Thomas Buchmueller serves as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Health Economics and is also a senior health economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
His research centers around the economics of insurance and related public policies. He has extensively published on topics including consumer demand for health insurance policies, the interactions between public policy and private markets for health coverage, as well as health reform.
Early Life and Education
Thomas Buchmueller holds the Waldo O. Hildebrand Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance as well as Chairing Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. His research interests center around health insurance economics and related public policies. Specifically, his work investigates employer-sponsored health plans’ correlation to labor market outcomes as well as consumer demand for health plans as well as interactions between public and private insurance markets as well as health care reform efforts.
As part of his research on pricing effects on health plan choices and price elasticity effects on patient switching patterns, he has published numerous articles and studies in top academic journals; moreover he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Health Economics.
Professional Career
Buchmueller specializes in the economics of health insurance and related public policies, conducting extensive research in areas like employer-sponsored health coverage and labor market outcomes, the interaction between public policy and private markets and consumer demand for health coverage. He has also studied systems of care elsewhere – in France and Australia for instance.
His research into the economics of healthcare has resulted in numerous publications in top academic journals. Additionally, he served on the editorial board of American Journal of Health Economics as well as being named senior health economist on White House Council of Economic Advisers.
Buchmueller’s research has also addressed the topic of take up, or signup – or whether individuals opt for private or government-subsidized health insurance coverage – among individuals. He discussed its influences as part of an interview with ERIU, noting the various factors which drive take up trends as well as why this data should be taken into account when formulating public policy solutions.
Achievement and Honors
Buchmueller has completed extensive work in Actuarial science relating to self-insurance and public health insurance policies, family medicine and public economics issues.
He has served on the National Bureau of Economic Research since 1994, and currently holds the Waldo Hildebrand Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. In 2011, he held a Senior Health Economist role with White House Council of Economic Advisers; more recently his work has centered around issues surrounding healthcare reform.
Personal Life
Thomas Buchmueller holds a Waldo O. Hildebrand Professorship of Risk Management and Insurance as well as teaching Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Additionally, he serves as research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research as well as senior health economist on White House Council of Economic Advisers between 2011-12.
Buchmueller’s work centers on the economics of insurance and how public policies influence them. His research has received various honors, such as AcademyHealth’s Article of the Year award in 2005.
He has published numerous articles and books related to his research, and currently serves as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Health Economics. Additionally, he enjoys traveling and spending time with family, including his bluetick coonhound dog named Blue.