Swami, B.N., Okurut, F.N., Yinusa, D.O., Bonu, V., Pelaelo, P.S. and Sethibe, A.

Transcription

1 Swami, B.N., Okurut, F.N., Yinusa, D.O., Bonu, V., Pelaelo, P.S. and Sethibe, A.

2 Motivation of the Study Health is an important resource for a nation to pursue national development goals Health raises the productivity of the labour force and enhances economic growth Health insurance plays a critical role in supplementing government effort in ensuring the availability and accessibility of health care services to the population

3 Motivation cont d However the existing formal health insurance schemes [Botswana Public Officers Medical Aid Scheme (BOPMAS), Botswana Medical Aid Society (BOMAID) and Pula Medical Aid Fund] tend to target certain categories of persons in paid employment in the public and private sectors (high income) Of particular concern are low income persons who are not served by the existing formal health insurance schemes Itekanele is currently the sole micro health insurance provider in Botswana

4 Motivation cont d This paper profiles the Micro Health Insurance products in Botswana in terms of reasons for choice of Micro Health Insurance scheme, client understanding of the terms and conditions of the products offered, premiums charged, clients satisfaction with services rendered, and makes recommendations for improvement

5 Data Sources Data collected from five districts in Botswana (Central, North East, North West, Kweneng and South East). Sample size: 90 Itekanele clients Sample selection method: Snow ball sampling technique Unit of analysis: Household level

6 Socio economic characteristics of clients Gender: Female 57%; male 43% Education level: None 9%; Primary 21%; secondary 49%; university 6% Rural urban location: Rural 18%; urban 82% Employment status: unemployed 12%; selfemployed 25%; paid public/private sector 48%; retired 4% Age: Mean 42; minimum 22; maximum 76

7 Reasons for choice of Microhealth insurance product Reason Frequency Percent (N=90) Good quality care offered Financial protection from out of pocket payments Compulsory Somebody told me to do so Cheapest way to care Became aware through mass media Other 7 7.8

8 Premium Payment Frequency: Monthly Perception of Premium Relative to Income: okay 72%; cheap 19%; expensive 5% According to Itekanele policy, only people earning less than P4,000 per month (EURO 400) are eligible for membership in the scheme. However an individual earning more than P4,000 can pay on behalf of a relative. The monthly premiums range from P89 (EURO 9) for a member only to P209 (EURO 21) for a member with four dependants.

9 Convenience of Premium Payment Convenience and Safety of Premium Payment: convenient 92%; safe 91% According to Itekanele policy, there are three alternative methods for premium payments: members to have bank accounts where they issue standing orders for the banks to transfer the premium payments to Itekanele account; corporate companies /organizations to deduct the premium payments from the members salaries/wages and issue a single cheque to Itekanele; members without bank accounts to either deposit the cash in Itekanele bank account or pay cash at the Head Office.

10 Micro health Insurance Benefit Package The Itekanele benefits package includes: Free consultation and referral for members and their dependants, Free medication (based on formula provided to the network of doctors), Optical lenses worth P500 (EURO 50) Free dental services (limited to cleaning and extraction once every six months).

11 Satisfaction with Benefit Package Level of Satisfaction Frequency Percent Very satisfied Satisfied Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied Not satisfied Not satisfied at all Total

12 Clear Communication of Terms and Conditions of Itekanele Health Product Clear Communication Frequency Percent Yes No Total

13 Are Written Materials on Health Product Understandable and Complete? Understandable and Clear Frequency Percent Yes No Total

14 Good Understanding on Itekanele Health Insurance Product Good Understanding Frequency Percent Yes No Total

15 Plans to Quit Itekanele Plan to Quit Frequency Percent Yes No Total

16 Summary and conclusions The Itekanele health insurance scheme is a product designed for low income persons. The main factors that motivated the clients to join a micro health insurance scheme included financial protection from out of pocket payments and cheapest way to care. The scheme is affordable and the premium payment process is both convenient and safe. But inadequate communication to clients of the terms and conditions of the scheme in terms of the benefits package vis à vis the premium paid.