Determinants of Health insurance Coverage among Women in Egypt: evidence from the 2021 Egypt Family Health Survey

Health insurance is a fundamental mechanism for achieving universal health coverage and enhancing access to healthcare services. The current paper examined the coverage and determinants of health insurance among Egyptian women. Data for this paper were derived from Egypt Family Health Survey (EFHS) conducted by CAPMAS during 2021-2022. Chi-square test was employed to determine the statistical significance of the bivariate relationships between health insurance coverage and different demographic and socioeconomic factors. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with health insurance ownership. The findings of our study showed that a low proportion of women (13 percent) have access to any type of health insurance. The results reveal that factors identified to be associated with health insurance coverage were age, level of education, wealth index, current working status, region. Policy interventions that prioritize vulnerable and low-income households, simplify enrollment procedures, and promote equitable access to high-quality health insurance services are urgently needed to reduce disparities in insurance coverage. Additionally, future research should incorporate a broader range of variables, particularly maternal health indicators, to deepen understanding of the underlying factors contributing to inequality in health insurance coverage and to inform more targeted and effective policy responses.