People's Perceptions on the Financial Pools for Universal National Health Insurance Coverage.

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing people's perceptions on the financial pools for enhancing the capacity of Universal Health Insurance Coverage in Dar es Salaam city. The study explored perceptions on merging health insurance schemes, harmonization of health insurance schemes, cross-subsidization and making compulsory involvement in health insurance schemes as the financial pooling mechanisms for Universal Health Insurance Coverage. The study employed the cross-sectional research design which allowed collection of opinions from different stakeholders concerning the adoption of Universal Health Insurance Coverage in Tanzania. Results from the field indicates that majority of the respondents were having normal level of awareness health insurance schemes and universal health insurance financing, nevertheless, results shows that Dar es Salaam residents differ on the way the understand how health insurance schemes operate in Tanzania. Results indicate most of the respondents perceives merging health insurance schemes and introduce the singe health insurances schemes to administer Universal Health Insurance Coverage as the best mechanism of effectively implementing the Universal Health Insurance Coverage. The study recommends that National Health Insurance Fund should be transformed to Universal Health Insurance Coverage to administer and implement the program of Universal Health Insurance Coverage