Enrolment on Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana: Evidence from Mfantseman Municipality

Abstract

The study aimed at analysing the determinants of enrolment in the Ghana’s national health insurance scheme.  This survey was carried out to collect cross-sectional information from a representative sample of 384  households using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multistage sampling procedure was  used to select the respondents. Binary logit model was used to estimate the determinants of enrolment to the scheme. The findings show that factors such as age, occupation, place of residence, income and wealth, play an important role in shaping individuals’ and households’ decision to enrol. Additionally, sex, marital status, household size, and distance significantly influenced individual’s decision to enrol whereas education influences household enrolment. It is recommended that appropriate educational packages be organised for the citizenry to encourage families to enrol, as the scheme prevents impoverishment resulting from catastrophic health expenditures and also improves access to healthcare. Targeted demand-side subsidy for the indigents would contribute to welfare gain and could help government achieve universal healthcare coverage.

Keywords: National Health Insurance Scheme, Determinants, Enrolment, Healthcare and Ghana