The impact of filipino micro health-insurance units on income-related equality of access to healthcare

被引:16
|
作者
Dror, David Mark [1 ]
Koren, Ruth
Steinberg, David Mark
机构
[1] Erasmus Univ, MC, Inst Hlth Policy & Management, Rotterdam, Netherlands
[2] Tel Aviv Univ, Sackler Fac Med, IL-69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
[3] Tel Aviv Univ, Dept Stat & Operat Res, IL-69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
关键词
Philippines; micro-health insurance; health insurance; access to healthcare; income-related equality of access;
D O I
10.1016/j.healthpol.2005.08.001
中图分类号
R19 [保健组织与事业(卫生事业管理)];
学科分类号
摘要
Background: This study aims to assess the impact of being insured by micro-health insurance units (MIUs) on equality of access to health care among groups with inequitable income distribution. We measure equality by relating income with access to healthcare. The analysis is based on a household survey conducted in five regions in the Philippines in 2002. Methods: We generated concentration curves and indices (0) for insured and uninsured households (150 for each cohort in each region). We also elaborated a method to retain the relative income rank of households when data were aggregated across regions, as the regions had quite different nominal income levels. Results: We found a significant effect of household income on access to hospitalizations among the uninsured households (a positive CI), but no such effect among the insured households (CI close to zero). As regards professionally attended deliveries, an increased tendency of poorer households to deliver at home (CI slightly negative) and a lower rate of deliveries in hospital (Cl slightly positive and statistically significant) were reported by both uninsured and insured households. Access to consultations was unrelated to income among the insured (CI close to 0), but negatively correlated with income among the uninsured (a positive and significant CI). Conclusion: We conclude that MIUs in Philippines improve income-related equality of access to hospitalization and medical consultation in cases of illness. The findings of this study strengthen a claim for government support for the operation of MIUs as successful (albeit micro) suppliers of health insurance. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:304 / 317
页数:14
相关论文
共 23 条