Determinants of health insurance demand among the migrants in kenya
Abstract
The Second MTP 2013-2017, outlines important predictable challenges which urgently need
to be addressed; high cost of health care and financing and low coverage of health insurance.
Accessibility of health care services to the general population is an important objective of the
government's national health sector strategic plan and national development agenda as
specified in the Kenya Vision 2030 policy framework. It recognizes that health insurance
plays a major role in reducing the influence of high costs of health care on the economic
wellbeing of its people especially the vulnerable population. Therefore, this paper sought to
specifically understand factors behind consumption of health insurance among migrant
communities in Kenya. The Kenya Demographic and Household Survey (KDHS) 2008was
used to assess the pattern and estimate the determinants of Health Insurance Demand among
migrants. Utilizing Binary Probit Regression model, the study found out that age of the
migrants, education levels, marital status, religion, access to information and language
proficiency were statistically significant factors which determined health insurance demand
among the migrants in Kenya while employment status, duration of stay, place of current
residence, wealth index and household size were found to be statistically insignificant. From
the findings, it is shown that age, education levels, marital status and access to information
increased consumption of health insurance services. It was further revealed that migrants who
were either Roman Catholic, Protestants, Muslims or those who had some kind of belief
including those migrants who were language proficient had low probability of purchasing
health insurance. Therefore, based on the study findings, this paper recommends that there is
need for creation of awareness through religious groups on the importance of health
insurance on improving the livelihoods of the people through access to health care. The
insurance industry need to establish the right insurance product for migrants that are
recognized and acceptable by this heterogeneous population to enhance more consumption
Citation
Master of Science in health Economics and policyPublisher
University of Nairobi