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Predicting the Intention and Purchase of Health Insurance Among Malaysian Working Adults

Author

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  • Abdullah Al Mamun
  • Muhammad Khalilur Rahman
  • Uma Thevi Munikrishnan
  • P. Yukthamarani Permarupan

Abstract

This study explored the effects of insurance literacy, perceived usefulness, attitude toward health insurance, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control on the intention to purchase and the actual purchase of health insurance among working adults in Malaysia. This quantitative study adopted the cross-sectional design with data gathered from 1,308 working adults through a Google form link shared in social media. Upon analysis, the outcomes revealed that insurance literacy, perceived usefulness, attitude toward health insurance, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control exerted a significantly positive effect on the intention to purchase health insurance. Intention to purchase health insurance exhibited a significantly positive impact on actual purchase of health insurance. Empirically, intention to purchase health insurance yielded a significantly positive mediating effect. Based on the multi-group analysis (MGA), the perceived behavioral control was significantly stronger among rural respondents than urban respondents, as well as among respondents with a bachelor degree than those with secondary school certificate. Referring to the retrieved empirical outputs, financial and health management policymakers, as well as insurance companies in Malaysia should concentrate more on the positive attributes of health insurance in order to improve the attitude of Malaysian working adults toward insurance and insurance literacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdullah Al Mamun & Muhammad Khalilur Rahman & Uma Thevi Munikrishnan & P. Yukthamarani Permarupan, 2021. "Predicting the Intention and Purchase of Health Insurance Among Malaysian Working Adults," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:11:y:2021:i:4:p:21582440211061373
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440211061373
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ajemunigbohun Sunday Stephen & Olowokudejo Folake Feyisayo & Adeleke Ismaila, 2022. "Claims Settlement and Risk Attitudes: Evidence from the Motor Insurance Policyholders," Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Oeconomica, Sciendo, vol. 67(2), pages 33-49, August.
    3. Petro G. Nzowa & Felix A. Nandonde & Somo M. L. Seimu, 2022. "Moderation effects of co-operative institutions’ capabilities on the relationship between health insurance literacy and participation in health insurance among co-operative members in Tanzania," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 49(4), pages 381-394, December.
    4. Chen, Hua & Ding, Yugang & Wang, Xiangnan & Yang, Yifei, 2023. "The effect of public insurance policy on the private insurance market: New evidence from a quasi-experiment in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 937-953.

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