scholarly journals The experiences of merging health insurance funds in South Korea, Turkey, Thailand, and Indonesia: a cross-country comparative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bazyar ◽  
Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi ◽  
Arash Rashidian ◽  
Anahita Behzadi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Benefit Package ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Insurance Funds ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Health Insurance Funds

Abstract Background Fragmentation in health insurance system may lead to inequity in financial access to and utilization of health care services. One possible option to overcome this challenge is merging the existing health insurance funds together. This article aims to review and compare the experience of South Korea, Turkey, Thailand and Indonesia regarding merging their health insurance funds. Methods This was a cross-country comparative study. The countries of the study were selected purposefully based on the availability of data to review their experience regarding merging health insurance funds. To find the most relevant documents about the subject, different sources of information including books, scientific papers, dissertations, reports, and policy documents were studied. Research databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct and ProQuest were used to find relevant articles. Documents released by international organizations such as WHO and World Bank were analyzed as well. The content of documents was analyzed using a data-driven conventional content analysis approach and all details regarding the subject were extracted. The extracted information was reviewed by all authors several times and nine themes emerged. Results The findings show that improving equity in health financing and access to health care services among different groups of population was one of the main triggers to merge health insurance funds. Resistance by groups enjoying better benefit package and concerns of workers and employers about increasing the contribution rates were among challenges ahead of merging health insurance funds. Improving equity in the health care financing; reducing inequity in access to and utilization of health care services; boosting risk pooling; reducing administrative costs; higher chance to control total health care expenditures; and enhancing strategic purchasing were the main advantages of merging health insurance funds. The experience of these countries also emphasizes that political commitment and experiencing a reliable economic growth to enhance benefit package and support the single national insurance scheme financially after merging are required to facilitate implementation of merging health insurance funds. Conclusions Other contributing health reforms should be implemented simultaneously or sequentially in both supply side and demand side of the health system if merging is going to pave the way reaching universal health coverage.

scholarly journals What Are the Potential Advantages and Disadvantages of Merging Health Insurance Funds? A Qualitative Policy Analysis from Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bazyar ◽  
Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi ◽  
Nouroddin Rahimi ◽  
Arash Rashidian
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Health Care Expenditures ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Insurance Funds ◽  
Rich Data ◽  
Health Insurance Funds

Abstract Background:In countries with health insurance systems, the number and size of insurance funds along with the amount of risk distribution among them are a major concern. One possible solution to overcome problems resulting from fragmentation is to combine risk pools to create a single pool. This study aimed to investigate the potential advantages and disadvantages of merging health insurance funds in Iran. Methods:In this qualitative study, a purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used to obtain representativeness and rich data. To this end, sixty-seven face-to-face interviews were conducted. Moreover, a documentary review was used as a supplementary source of data collection. Content analysis using the 'framework method' was used to analyze the data. Four trustworthiness criteria, including credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, were used to assure the quality of results. Results:The potential consequences were grouped into seven categories, including stewardship, financing, population, benefit package, structure, operational procedures, and interaction with providers. According to the interviewees, controlling total health care expenditures; improving strategic purchasing; removing duplication in population coverage; centralizing the profile of providers in a single database; controlling the volume of provided health care services; making hospitals interact with single insurance with a single set of instructions for contracting, claiming review, and reimbursement; and reducing administrative costs were among the main benefits of merging health insurance funds. The interviewees enumerated the following drawbacks as well: the social security organization’s unwillingness to collect insurance premiums from private workers actively as before; increased dissatisfaction among population groups enjoying a generous basic benefits package; risk of financial fraud and corruption due to gathering all premiums in a single bank; and risk of putting more financial pressure on providers in case of delay in reimbursement with a single-payer system. Conclusion:Merging health insurance schemes in Iran is influenced by a wide range of potential merits and drawbacks. Thus, to facilitate the process and lessen opponents’ objection, policy makers should act as brokers by taking into account contextual factors and adopting tailored policies to respectively maximize and minimize the potential benefits and drawbacks of consolidation in Iran.

scholarly journals What Are the Potential Advantages and Disadvantages of Merging Health Insurance Funds? A Qualitative Policy Analysis from Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bazyar ◽  
Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi ◽  
Nouroddin Rahimi ◽  
Arash Rashidian
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Health Care Expenditures ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Insurance Funds ◽  
Rich Data ◽  
Health Insurance Funds

Abstract Background:In countries with health insurance systems, the number and size of insurance funds along with the amount of risk distribution among them are a major concern. One possible solution to overcome problems resulting from fragmentation is to combine risk pools to create a single pool. This study aimed to investigate the potential advantages and disadvantages of merging health insurance funds in Iran. Methods:In this qualitative study, a purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used to obtain representativeness and rich data. To this end, sixty-seven face-to-face interviews were conducted. Moreover, a documentary review was used as a supplementary source of data collection. Content analysis using the 'framework method' was used to analyze the data. Four trustworthiness criteria, including credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, were used to assure the quality of results. Results:The potential consequences were grouped into seven categories, including stewardship, financing, population, benefit package, structure, operational procedures, and interaction with providers. According to the interviewees, controlling total health care expenditures; improving strategic purchasing; removing duplication in population coverage; centralizing the profile of providers in a single database; controlling the volume of provided health care services; making hospitals interact with single insurance with a single set of instructions for contracting, claiming review, and reimbursement; and reducing administrative costs were among the main benefits of merging health insurance funds. The interviewees enumerated the following drawbacks as well: the social security organization’s unwillingness to collect insurance premiums from private workers actively as before; increased dissatisfaction among population groups enjoying a generous basic benefits package; risk of financial fraud and corruption due to gathering all premiums in a single bank; and risk of putting more financial pressure on providers in case of delay in reimbursement with a single-payer system. Conclusion:Merging health insurance schemes in Iran is influenced by a wide range of potential merits and drawbacks. Thus, to facilitate the process and lessen opponents’ objection, policy makers should act as brokers by taking into account contextual factors and adopting tailored policies to respectively maximize and minimize the potential benefits and drawbacks of consolidation in Iran.

scholarly journals What Kinds of Advantages and Disadvantages Is May Merging Health Insurance Funds Bring About? A Qualitative Policy Analysis from Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bazyar ◽  
Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi ◽  
Nouroddin Rahimi ◽  
Arash Rashidian
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Health Financing ◽  
Health Care Expenditures ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Insurance Funds ◽  
Health Insurance Funds

Abstract Background: Fragmentation in health insurance system is a major concern in health financing. One possible solution to overcome problems resulting from fragmentation is combining risk pools together. This study aims to realize the potential advantages and disadvantages of merging health insurance funds. Methods: In this qualitative study, a purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used to obtain representativeness and rich data. Sixty face-to-face interviews were conducted. The documentary review was used as a supplementary source of data collection. Content analysis using the 'framework method' was used to analyze the qualitative data. Results: The results of this study indicated that there are diverse positive and negative consequences for merging health insurance funds in Iran. These are categorized into seven categories, including governance/stewardship, financing, population, basic benefit package, structure, operational procedures, and interaction with providers. Control of total health care expenditures; improving strategic purchasing; removing duplication in population coverage; centralizing the profile of providers in a single database and reducing fraud and controlling the volume of health care services provided by the providers; interaction of hospitals with single insurance with a single set of instructions for contracting, claiming review and reimbursement; reducing administrative and overhead costs were among the main benefits of merging mentioned by interviewees. The following drawbacks were raised as well: the unwillingness of the social security organization to collect insurance premiums from private workers actively as before; increasing dissatisfaction among population groups enjoying generous basic benefits package at the current situation; risk of financial fraud and corruption due to gathering all premiums in a single bank; and risk of putting more financial pressure on the providers in case of delay in reimbursement by the single-payer. Conclusions: Implementation of merging health insurance schemes in Iran would be influenced by a wide range of potential merits and drawbacks. Thus, to facilitate the process and lessen the opposition of opponents, policy makers should act as brokers taking into account the contextual factors and adopting tailored policies to maximize the benefits and minimize the potential drawbacks of consolidation in Iran.

Race and gender as factors in access to health insurance and utilization of health care services

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana J. Ferradas ◽  
G. Nicole Rider ◽  
Johanna D. Williams ◽  
Brittany J. Dancy ◽  
Lauren R. Mcghee
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
And Gender

scholarly journals Structure and Distribution of Health Care Costs across Age Groups of Patients with Multimorbidity in Lithuania

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2767
Author(s):  
Laura Nedzinskienė ◽  
Elena Jurevičienė ◽  
Žydrūnė Visockienė ◽  
Agnė Ulytė ◽  
Roma Puronaitė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Resource Usage ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Care Costs

Background. Patients with multimorbidity account for ever-increasing healthcare resource usage and are often summarised as big spenders. Comprehensive analysis of health care resource usage in different age groups in patients with at least two non-communicable diseases is still scarce, limiting the quality of health care management decisions, which are often backed by limited, small-scale database analysis. The health care system in Lithuania is based on mandatory social health insurance and is covered by the National Health Insurance Fund. Based on a national Health Insurance database. The study aimed to explore the distribution, change, and interrelationships of health care costs across the age groups of patients with multimorbidity, suggesting different priorities at different age groups. Method. The study identified all adults with at least one chronic disease when any health care services were used over a three-year period between 2012 and 2014. Further data analysis excluded patients with single chronic conditions and further analysed patients with multimorbidity, accounting for increasing resource usage. The costs of primary, outpatient health care services; hospitalizations; reimbursed and paid out-of-pocket medications were analysed in eight age groups starting at 18 and up to 85 years and over. Results. The study identified a total of 428,430 adults in Lithuania with at least two different chronic diseases from the 32 chronic disease list. Out of the total expenditure within the group, 51.54% of the expenses were consumed for inpatient treatment, 30.90% for reimbursed medications. Across different age groups of patients with multimorbidity in Lithuania, 60% of the total cost is attributed to the age group of 65–84 years. The share in the total spending was the highest in the 75–84 years age group amounting to 29.53% of the overall expenditure, with an increase in hospitalization and a decrease in outpatient services. A decrease in health care expenses per capita in patients with multimorbidity after 85 years of age was observed. Conclusions. The highest proportion of health care expenses in patients with multimorbidity relates to hospitalization and reimbursed medications, increasing with age, but varies through different services. The study identifies the need to personalise the care of patients with multimorbidity in the primary-outpatient setting, aiming to reduce hospitalizations with proactive disease management.

Umowy o udzielanie świadczeń opieki zdrowotnej zawierane przez Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (leczenie w ramach ubezpieczenia zdrowotnego) a leczenie na zasadach komercyjnych. Implikacje prawne i praktyczne

2021 ◽  
pp. 141-151
Author(s):  
Paweł Lipowski
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Public Payer ◽  
Universal Health

The aim of this study is to identify the legal characteristics of contracts for the health care services provided by a public payer, i.e. the National Health Fund (NFZ) as part of treatment covered by universal health insurance, as compared to those provided by the health care providers with public or private legal status. This issue is discussed in relation to the legal conditions for the treatment of patients on a commercial basis in those institutions (private or public) which have contracts for the provision of healthcare services under the general health insurance (so-called contracts). The discussion is presented based on author’s own observations, resulting both from his scientific studies in the field of medical law and his work in various entities operating in the health care system.

scholarly journals COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME IN A RURAL COMMUNITY OF NORTH WEST NIGERIA: A ROADMAP TO ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE.

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-130
Author(s):  
Lawal A ◽  
◽  
Gobir AA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Community Based Health Insurance ◽  
Care Services

Background: Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) scheme is aimed at reducing out of pocket spending on health care services, ensuring final risk protection to all, especially the poor and the most vulnerable, improvement of quality of health care services, access and utilization as well as the promotion of equity. Objective: This research was aimed at determining willingness to participate in a community-based health insurance scheme among rural households in Katsina State. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in December 2016 among households of Batagarawa LGA, Katsina State. We used a pre-tested, electronic, semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain data from households that were selected using a multistage sampling technique and we analyzed the data using STATA version 13. Results: Most, (28.5%) of the respondents were in the age range of 30-39 years with a mean age of 35.5 years. Males were the dominant household heads (93%). Most were married (90%). Most, (90.5%) of households were willing to pay for a community-based health insurance scheme with a median premium of 100 Naira per household member per month. Conclusions: The high proportion of households willing to pay for the scheme should inform the decision of policy makers to design and maintain Community Based Health Insurance Scheme to improve access to and utilization of quality health care services.

scholarly journals The shared experiences of insured members and the uninsured in health care access and utilization under Ghana’s national health insurance scheme: Evidence from the Hohoe Municipality

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244155
Author(s):  
Suraiya Umar ◽  
Adam Fusheini ◽  
Martin Amogre Ayanore
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
National Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Barriers To Health

Background The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was introduced in Ghana in 2003 to remove financial barriers and to promote equitable access to health care services. Post implementation has been characterized by increases in access and utilization of services among the insured. The uninsured have been less likely to utilize services due to unaffordability of health care costs. In this study, we explored the experiences of the insured members of the NHIS, the uninsured and health professionals in accessing and utilizing health care services under the NHIS in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews were held with twenty-five NHIS insured, twenty-five uninsured, and five health care professionals, who were randomly sampled from the Hohoe Municipality to collect data for this study. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Participants identified both enablers or motivating factors and barriers to health care services of the insured and uninsured. The major factors motivating members to access and use health care services were illness severity and symptom persistence. On the other hand, barriers identified included perceived poor service quality and lack of health insurance among the insured and uninsured respectively. Other barriers participants identified included financial constraints, poor attitudes of service providers, and prolonged waiting time. However, the level of care received were reportedly about the same among the insured and uninsured with access to quality health care much dependent on ability to pay, which favors the rich and thereby creating inequity in accessing the needed quality care services. Conclusion The implication of the financial barriers to health care access identified is that the poor and uninsured still suffer from health care access challenges, which questions the efficiency and core goal of the NHIS in removing financial barrier to health care access. This has the potential of undermining Ghana’s ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 of universal health coverage by the year 2030.

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