Field Based Evidence of Enhanced Healthcare Utilization Among Persons Insured by Micro Health Insurance Units in Philippines

Health Policy, Vol. 73, No. 3, 2005

9 Pages Posted: 27 Sep 2007

See all articles by David M. Dror

David M. Dror

Micro Insurance Academy (MIA)

Elmer S. Soriano

Institute of Public Health Management

M.E. Lorenzo

affiliation not provided to SSRN

J.N. Sarol

affiliation not provided to SSRN

R.S. Azcuna

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Ruth Koren

Tel Aviv University - Professor Sackler Faculty of Medicine

Abstract

Underutilization of healthcare is common among rural and low-income population segments in countries with lower income or inequitable income distribution. Micro health insurance units (MIUs) are created by informal sector groups because people cannot access health insurance or are dissatisfied with the programmes they can access. The policy choice to support MIUs relies on evidence that affiliation with these schemes increases healthcare utilization. This article examines new evidence of the association between affiliation with MIUs and healthcare utilization. We analyzed field data collected in 6 MIUs in the Philippines in 2002 (through a household survey encompassing 890 insured- and 1063 uninsured households). The two cohorts did not differ in demographic parameters, and differed only marginally in income and education levels, both higher amongst the insured. Insured persons reported higher hospitalization rates, higher rates of professionally-attended deliveries, lower rates of delivery at home, a higher frequency of primary-care physician encounters, a higher rate of diagnosed chronic diseases, and better drug compliance among chronically ill. Increased utilization by the insured is not due to adverse selection, judging by two facts: morbidity of the two cohorts, as assessed by a proxy indicator (the reported number of episodes of illness) did not differ; and rates of deliveries were even slightly higher among the uninsured. We conclude that MIUs in the Philippines can alleviate underutilization of heath care.

Keywords: Healthcare utilization, Community financing, Micro health insurance (MIUs), Insurance/health, Voluntary, Health services accessibility

Suggested Citation

Dror, David M. and Soriano, Elmer S. and Lorenzo, M.E. and Sarol, J.N. and Azcuna, R.S. and Koren, Ruth, Field Based Evidence of Enhanced Healthcare Utilization Among Persons Insured by Micro Health Insurance Units in Philippines. Health Policy, Vol. 73, No. 3, 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1017212

David M. Dror (Contact Author)

Micro Insurance Academy (MIA) ( email )

New Delhi, NCR
India
+41 78 790 6789 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://en.everybodywiki.com/

Elmer S. Soriano

Institute of Public Health Management ( email )

3F Matiaga St.
Central District
Quezon City
Philippines

HOME PAGE: http://www.iphm.org

M.E. Lorenzo

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

J.N. Sarol

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

R.S. Azcuna

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Ruth Koren

Tel Aviv University - Professor Sackler Faculty of Medicine ( email )

Ramat Aviv
Tel-Aviv, 6997801
Israel

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