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The Demand for Private Health Insurance in Malawi

Author

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  • Makoka, Donald
  • Kaluwa, Ben
  • Kambewa, Patrick

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of demand for private health insurance among formal sector employees in Malawi, a poor country with heavy pressure on under-funded free government health services. The study is based on membership in the Medical Aid Society of Malawi’s (MASM), three schemes, namely: the VIP, the best; the Executive, the intermediate; and the Econoplan, the minimum. The results indicate that formal sector employees prefer to receive medical treatment from private fee-charging health facilities, where health insurance would be relevant. The study finds that the probability of enrolling in any of MASM’s schemes increases with income and with age for the top and minimum schemes. More children and good health status reduce the probability of enrolling into the two lower schemes. The results suggest the potentially important roles that can be played by information and interventions that address the affordability factor such as through employer contributions that take into consideration income and family size.

Suggested Citation

  • Makoka, Donald & Kaluwa, Ben & Kambewa, Patrick, 2007. "The Demand for Private Health Insurance in Malawi," MPRA Paper 4974, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:4974
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/4974/3/MPRA_paper_4974.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. World Bank, 2003. "World Development Report 2003," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 5985.
    2. World Bank, 2003. "World Development Report 2004," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 5986.
    3. Joan Costa & Jaume Garcia, 2001. "Demand for private health insurance: Is there a quality gap?," Working Papers, Research Center on Health and Economics 531, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Okore Apia Okorafor, 2012. "National health insurance reform in South Africa," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 189-200, May.
    2. Hubert Amu & Kwamena Sekyi Dickson & Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme & Eugene Kofuor Maafo Darteh, 2018. "Understanding variations in health insurance coverage in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania: Evidence from demographic and health surveys," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Okore Okorafor, 2012. "National health insurance reform in South Africa," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 189-200, May.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health

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