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The Social Value of Health Insurance Results from Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Garcia Mandico,Silvia
  • Reichert,Arndt Rudiger
  • Strupat,Christoph

Abstract

This paper uses the roll-out of the national health insurance in Ghana to assess the cushioning effect of coverage on the financial consequences of health shocks and resulting changes in coping behaviors. The analysis finds a strong reduction in medical expenditures, preventing households from cutting non-food consumption and causing a decrease in the volume of received remittances as well as the labor supply of healthy adult household members. Moreover, the paper presents evidence that the insurance scheme reduced the likelihood that households experiencing a health shock pulled their children out of school to put them to work. Avoidance of such costly coping mechanisms is potentially an important part of the social value of formal health insurance.

Suggested Citation

  • Garcia Mandico,Silvia & Reichert,Arndt Rudiger & Strupat,Christoph, 2019. "The Social Value of Health Insurance Results from Ghana," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9004, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9004
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    2. O'Donnell, Owen, 2024. "Health and health system effects on poverty: A narrative review of global evidence," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    3. Strupat, Christoph, 2021. "The preserving effect of social protection on social cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," IDOS Discussion Papers 33/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), revised 2021.
    4. Liu, Kai & Prommawin, Benjapon & Schroyen, Fred, 2024. "Health insurance, agricultural production and investments," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Kofinti, Raymond Elikplim & Koomson, Isaac & Paintsil, Jones Arkoh & Ameyaw, Edward Kwabena, 2022. "Reducing children's malnutrition by increasing mothers' health insurance coverage: A focus on stunting and underweight across 32 sub-Saharan African countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    6. Strupat, Christoph, 2021. "The preserving effect of social protection on social cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," MPRA Paper 111501, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Strupat, Christoph & Farfán, Gabriela & Moritz, Laura & Negre, Mario & Vakis, Renos, 2021. "Obesity and food away from home: What drives the socioeconomic gradient in excess body weight?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    8. Darkwah, Frank, 2022. "Does free health insurance improve health care use and labour market outcomes of the elderly in Ghana?," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    9. Strupat , Christoph & Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel, "undated". "The Impact of Social Assistance Programmes in a Pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," Discussion Papers 320790, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    10. Rukundo, Emmanuel Nshakira & Schroeder, Sarah & Hisarciklilar, Mehtap & McKay, Andrew D., 2024. "Health insurance premium changes and labor supply: Evidence from a low-income country," Ruhr Economic Papers 1103, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    11. Han, Jiajun, 2024. "A tale of two markets—would housing appreciation prompt insurance participation? Evidence from China’s urban elderly," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    12. Raju,Dhushyanth & Younger,Stephen D., 2022. "The Financial Risk Reduction Provided by Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10073, The World Bank.
    13. Christoph Strupat, 2022. "Social Protection and Social Cohesion in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1320-1357, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private

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