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Archives of Public Health
Published in: Archives of Public Health 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Barriers and motivations for health insurance subscription in Cape Coast, Ghana: a qualitative study

Authors: Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme, Hubert Amu, Eugene Kofuor Maafo Darteh

Published in: Archives of Public Health | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

One of the main objectives of the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme, at its establishment in 2003, was to ease financial burden of the full cost recovery policy, particularly on the poor. However, currently, majority of the scheme’s subscribers are individuals in the upper wealth quintile, as the poor in society rather have not subscribed. We explored the motivational factors as well as the barriers to health insurance subscription in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana.

Methods

This study collected qualitative data from 30 purposively selected subscribers and non-subscribers to the National Health Insurance Scheme using an in-depth interview guide.

Results

Major motivational factors identified were; affordable health insurance premium, access to free drugs, and social security against unforeseen health challenges. Encouragement by friends, family members, and colleagues, was also found to motivate subscription to the health insurance. The major barriers to health insurance subscription included; long queues and waiting time, perceived poor quality of drugs, and negative attitude of service providers both at the healthcare facilities and the health insurance office. The study underscores the need for the National Health Insurance Authority to conduct intensive education to change the negative perception people have regarding the quality of health insurance drugs. Efforts should also be made to reduce the waiting time in accessing healthcare with the National Health Insurance Scheme card. This would motivate more people to subscribe or renew their membership.

Conclusions

The implication of barriers found is that people may not subscribe to the scheme in subsequent years. This would, therefore, consequently defeat the objective of achieving universal healthcare coverage with the scheme.
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Metadata
Title
Barriers and motivations for health insurance subscription in Cape Coast, Ghana: a qualitative study
Authors
Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme
Hubert Amu
Eugene Kofuor Maafo Darteh
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Archives of Public Health / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2049-3258
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-017-0192-x

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