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Health Insurance Coverage Within Households: The Case of Private Health Insurance in South Africa

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  • Veloshnee Govender

    (School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town, Western Cape 7925, South Africa. E-mails: veloshnee.govender@uct.ac.za; John.Ataguba@uct.ac.za; olufunke.alaba@uct.ac.za)

  • John E Ataguba

    (School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town, Western Cape 7925, South Africa. E-mails: veloshnee.govender@uct.ac.za; John.Ataguba@uct.ac.za; olufunke.alaba@uct.ac.za)

  • Olufunke A Alaba

    (School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape Town, Western Cape 7925, South Africa. E-mails: veloshnee.govender@uct.ac.za; John.Ataguba@uct.ac.za; olufunke.alaba@uct.ac.za)

Abstract

Private health insurance coverage within households is declining in South Africa (SA). This raises concerns in a context of growing support both in SA and internationally for universal health coverage (UHC). This paper attempts to advance our understanding of coverage patterns within partially insured households (i.e. having at least one, but not all members, being insured). This paper was guided by the following questions: (1) What factors are associated with some household members being insured? And (2) who are excluded? Drawing from a nationally representative household survey, it was found that partially insured households differed from completely insured households across a range of demographic and socio-economic factors. Significantly, there was a relationship bias; relationship with the household head was an important predictor of access to insurance within partially insured households. As the drive towards UHC gains momentum in SA and other countries, there is a need to conduct similar intra-household-level empirical research.

Suggested Citation

  • Veloshnee Govender & John E Ataguba & Olufunke A Alaba, 2014. "Health Insurance Coverage Within Households: The Case of Private Health Insurance in South Africa," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 39(4), pages 712-726, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:gpprii:v:39:y:2014:i:4:p:712-726
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    Cited by:

    1. Fauzilah Salleh & Puspa Liza Binti Ghazali & Ahmad Syukri Yazid & Wan Norhayate Wan Daud & Roslida Abdul Razak, 2018. "Developing of Micro Health Takaful of Affordable Monthly Payment for Poor Community in Malaysia," International Journal of Asian Social Science, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(12), pages 1219-1227, December.

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