What is a main consequence of adverse selection in the insurance industry?

Adverse selection occurs in the insurance industry when individuals with a higher risk of making a claim are more likely to seek insurance coverage than those with lower risk. This unbalanced risk can lead to a situation where an insurer has a disproportionately high number of high-risk policyholders. As a consequence, the insurer may experience higher-than-expected claims costs.

To mitigate these risks, insurance companies often raise premiums across the board. As premiums increase, some policyholders, particularly those who are less risky and may not find the cost justified for their risk level, may choose to cancel their policies. This leads to a further concentration of high-risk individuals within the insurance pool, exacerbating the problem of adverse selection.

Thus, the main consequence of adverse selection is indeed higher premiums. These premiums not only reflect the increased risk faced by the insurer but can also result in policy cancellations from those whom the insurer would prefer to retain, further destabilizing the insurance market.