Findings from World Health Organization in the Area of Health Insurance Described (Voluntary Health Insurance expenditure in low- and middle-income…

Health & Medicine Week

Findings from World Health Organization in the Area of Health Insurance Described (Voluntary Health Insurance expenditure in low- and middle-income countries: Exploring trends during 1995-2012 and policy implications for progress towards ...)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- Researchers detail new data in Health Insurance. According to news reporting out of Geneva, Switzerland, by NewsRx editors, research stated, "Most low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) rely significantly on private health expenditure in the form of out-of-pocket payments (OOP) and voluntary health insurance (VHI). This paper assesses VHI expenditure trends in LMIC and explores possible explanations."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from World Health Organization, "This illuminates challenges deriving from changes in VHI expenditure as countries aim to progress equitably towards universal health coverage (UHC). Health expenditure data was retrieved from the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database to calculate VHI, OOP and general government health (GGHE) expenditure as a share of total health expenditure (THE) for the period of 1995-2012. A literature analysis offered potential reasons for trends in countries and regions. In 2012, VHI as a percentage of THE (abbreviated as VHI%) was below 1 % in 49 out of 138 LMIC. Twenty-seven countries had no or more than five years of data missing. VHI% ranged from 1 to 5 % in 39 LMIC and was above 5 % in 23 LMIC. There is an upwards average trend in VHI% across all regions. However, increases in VHI% cannot be consistently linked with OOP falling or being redirected into private prepayment. There are various countries which exhibit rising VHI alongside a rise in OOP and fall in GGHE, which is a less desirable path in order to equitably progress towards UHC. Reasons for the VHI expenditure trends across LMIC include: external influences; government policies on the role of VHI and its regulation; and willingness and ability of the population to enrol in VHI schemes. Many countries have paid insufficient attention to the potentially risky role of VHI for equitable progress towards UHC. Expanding VHI markets bear the risk of increasing fragmentation and inequities."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "To avoid this, health financing strategies need to be clear regarding the role given to VHI on the path towards UHC."

For more information on this research see: Voluntary Health Insurance expenditure in low- and middle-income countries: Exploring trends during 1995-2012 and policy implications for progress towards universal health coverage. International Journal for Equity in Health, 2016;15():1-19. International Journal for Equity in Health can be contacted at: Biomed Central Ltd, 236 Grays Inn Rd, Floor 6, London WC1X 8HL, England. (BioMed Central - www.biomedcentral.com/; International Journal for Equity in Health - www.equityhealthj.com)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting L.M. Pettigrew, WHO, Dept. of Hlth Syst Governance & Financing, Ave Appia, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland (see also Health Insurance).

Keywords for this news article include: Geneva, Switzerland, Europe, Health Insurance, World Health Organization.