Awareness and Willingness Regarding Community Based Health Insurance in Urban Slums and Resettlement Colonies.

ABSTRACT

Health insurance is an efficient way to help people prepare for contingency health care. Health care would be more equitable under community-based insurance than the out-of-pocket system. Such a scheme is especially important for the marginalized population. Objective: To study the awareness and willingness to participate in a community-based scheme among the families. Study Design: Cross-sectional community based. Setting: Urban slums and resettlement colonies in East Delhi. Participants: Head of families or available adult member of 510 families. Statistical Analysis: Proportions, Chi square test. Results: Most of the families had a per capita income of Rs.200-600 per month. Average out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare per person per month was Rs.38.50. Nearly one-fourth of the families had some hospitalization in past 6 months, with loss of man-days and loss of wages. More than three-fourths of the respondents were aware about ‘insurance’, believed that health insurance is beneficial, and expressed willingness to participate. There is a need for health insurance among this population, and with government assistance and proper planning and education, community-based health insurance can possibly help these families manage their health care costs better.