Research from Manipal Academy of Higher Education Provides New Study Findings on Life Sciences (Utilization of health insurance by patients admitted for dental surgical procedures at a tertiary care hospital in Coastal Karnataka: a …): Life Sciences

2024 APR 22 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators publish new report on life sciences. According to news reporting out of Karnataka, India, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “There are various medical insurance options available in India. However, unlike many other countries, dental insurance plans are rare.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Manipal Academy of Higher Education: “The aim of this study was to assess the utilization of various government and private health insurance schemes by patients admitted for dental surgical procedures at a tertiary care hospital in coastal Karnataka, India. A study was conducted retrospectively to gather data on the socio-demographics, bill details, insurance, and benefits claimed by patients admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at a tertiary care hospital from May 2016 to September 2022. Out of 1750 patients, only 856 (48.9%) patients had availed of insurance, 395 patients (22.6%) utilized government health insurance policies, and 461 patients (26.3%) availed of private health insurance plans. Among Government schemes, primarily Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka was used by 262 (30.6%) patients, followed by Employees’ State Insurance Scheme by 110 (12.9%) patients. Among private schemes, 212 (24.8%) patients used the policies purchased by them, 19 (2.2%) patients’ medical expenses were paid by their employers, 105 (12.3%) patients utilized Manipal Arogya Suraksha and 124 (14.5%) patients used Medicare provided by the hospital. Bivariate linear regression confirmed that the total bill amount, out-of-pocket expenditure by the patient, and insurance amount reimbursed to the hospital were significantly associated with the type of insurance (government vs. private). The study noticed a gradual rise in insured patients every year.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Greater utilization of health insurance should be encouraged because the cost of dental treatment has always hindered the use of oral health services worldwide. This study highlights that the benefit available to the patients were mainly through general health insurance schemes, not specifically dental health insurance. Insurance schemes covering dental must be promoted more aggressively in the media, highlighting their available benefits, merits, and demerits.”

For more information on this research see: Utilization of health insurance by patients admitted for dental surgical procedures at a tertiary care hospital in Coastal Karnataka: a retrospective study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]. F1000Research, 2023,12. (F1000Research - http://f1000research.com). The publisher for F1000Research is F1000 Research Ltd.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.139841.2.

Our news journalists report that more information may be obtained by contacting Ashwini Kumar, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India. Additional authors for this research include Ramprasad Vasthare, Nishu Singla, Ritesh Singla, Bhargav Bhat, Prajna P Nayak.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)