Study on poverty impact of out-of-pocket payment in western China: Based on the survey on the remote rural minority-inhabited areas / 中国卫生政策研究

ABSTRACT

Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the poverty impact incurred by out-of-pocket payment (OOP) on rural residents in the selected remote minority-inhabited areas in western China both in 2011 and 2014. Methods: Under China's national poverty line, poverty headcount ratio and poverty gap were estimated from two rounds of household survey in 2011 and 2014, respectively. The Pan's Parade was also pictured. Results: In 2011, the poverty headcount ratios before and after the OOP were 31.07% and 51.70%;and the poverty impact was 20.63%. The impact of average poverty gap and mean positive poverty gap was 284.24 Yuan and 183.73 Yuan, respectively. In 2014, the poverty headcount ratios before and after the OOP were 29.40% and 44.66%;and the poverty impact was 15.26%. The impact of average poverty gap and mean positive poverty gap was 242.68 Yuan and 240.41 Yuan, respectively. Conclusion: Poverty headcount ratio and average poverty gap were reduced in the area of interest within the current study, but the mean positive poverty gap was increased. New rural cooperative medical scheme needs to be further adjusted for improving the insured individual's benefits. Low-income group should be paid more attention to eliminate impoverishment incurred by OOP.