Artha Vijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

Soumitra Ghosh ¹, Shinjini Mondal ²

Affiliations
1 Centre for Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Health System Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai 400088, IN
2 Centre for Child Health and Nutrition, Mumbai 400051, IN

Abstract

The study aims to assess the demand for health insurance, gather evidence on willingness to pay for it and its determining factors amongst the urban poor in Mumbai. This was ascertained through dichotomous bidding process on 300 households. Results of the multivariate regression model suggest that households with presence of morbid conditions and prior experience of inpatient admissions were more likely to join and pay for health insurance. They indicate the need for a state-subsidized insurance scheme as more than 50 per cent of the people willing to pay expressed their inability to pay more than one per cent of their annual income.

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Harshad P. Thakur ¹, Soumitra Ghosh ¹, M. Mariappan ¹, M. Bhatia ²

Affiliations
1 Centre for Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Health Systems Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai 400088, IN
2 Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics, London, WC2A2AE, GB

Abstract

The study aims to document, review and analyse the usefulness of user fees for healthcare, with emphasis on its implementation in different states of India. Four states were selected where user fees are in force for the last three years prior to July 2005. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect the data. The denial for subsidy is quite high for the poor patients. The awareness about exemption policy among users is quite low. The management structure is not uniform across the selected states. It is important to ensure that there is coordination between the state, district and hospital level societies. The exemption policy should take care of the interests of the poor patients.

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