Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance Enrolment

Background India faces a formidable challenge of providing universal health coverage to its uninsured population in the informal sector of the economy. Numerous micro health insurance (MHI) schemes have emerged as health financing mechanisms to reduce medical-illness-induced poverty. Existing resear...

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Main Authors: Basri Savitha, Subrato Banerjee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kerman University of Medical Sciences 2021-04-01
Series:International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3786_a7d9d97521f5cce5a7a24317974d0e50.pdf
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author Basri Savitha
Subrato Banerjee
author_facet Basri Savitha
Subrato Banerjee
author_sort Basri Savitha
collection DOAJ
description Background India faces a formidable challenge of providing universal health coverage to its uninsured population in the informal sector of the economy. Numerous micro health insurance (MHI) schemes have emerged as health financing mechanisms to reduce medical-illness-induced poverty. Existing research shows that the purchase of health insurance is most likely to be determined by health status, expected healthcare expenditure, and past health experiences in addition to socio-economic variables. We add to the understanding of various factors influencing enrolment in MHI from an Indian perspective.   Methods A survey was carried out to collect quantitative data in three districts in the state of Karnataka, India.   Results We show that education does not matter as significantly as experience does, in the determination of new insurance purchases. In other words, the importance of new insurance is not understood by those who are merely educated, but by those who have either fallen ill, or have previously seen the hazards of usurious borrowing.   Conclusion Our study provides deeper insights into the role of usurious borrowing and past illness in determining insurance purchases and highlights the formidable challenge of financial sustainability in the MHI market of India.
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spelling doaj.art-867dfdd498ae4daf93c13d140835dc262023-03-07T09:06:59ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392021-04-0110419220010.34172/ijhpm.2020.443786Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance EnrolmentBasri Savitha0Subrato Banerjee1Manipal Institute of Management, Centre for Advanced Research in Financial Inclusion, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaUniversity of Melbourne (Australia India Institute), Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaBackground India faces a formidable challenge of providing universal health coverage to its uninsured population in the informal sector of the economy. Numerous micro health insurance (MHI) schemes have emerged as health financing mechanisms to reduce medical-illness-induced poverty. Existing research shows that the purchase of health insurance is most likely to be determined by health status, expected healthcare expenditure, and past health experiences in addition to socio-economic variables. We add to the understanding of various factors influencing enrolment in MHI from an Indian perspective.   Methods A survey was carried out to collect quantitative data in three districts in the state of Karnataka, India.   Results We show that education does not matter as significantly as experience does, in the determination of new insurance purchases. In other words, the importance of new insurance is not understood by those who are merely educated, but by those who have either fallen ill, or have previously seen the hazards of usurious borrowing.   Conclusion Our study provides deeper insights into the role of usurious borrowing and past illness in determining insurance purchases and highlights the formidable challenge of financial sustainability in the MHI market of India.https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3786_a7d9d97521f5cce5a7a24317974d0e50.pdfmicro health insuranceindiaillnessusurious borrowingeducation
spellingShingle Basri Savitha
Subrato Banerjee
Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance Enrolment
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
micro health insurance
india
illness
usurious borrowing
education
title Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance Enrolment
title_full Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance Enrolment
title_fullStr Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance Enrolment
title_full_unstemmed Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance Enrolment
title_short Education and Experience as Determinants of Micro Health Insurance Enrolment
title_sort education and experience as determinants of micro health insurance enrolment
topic micro health insurance
india
illness
usurious borrowing
education
url https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3786_a7d9d97521f5cce5a7a24317974d0e50.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT basrisavitha educationandexperienceasdeterminantsofmicrohealthinsuranceenrolment
AT subratobanerjee educationandexperienceasdeterminantsofmicrohealthinsuranceenrolment