Factors Influencing Health Insurance Uptake In Nyeri County.

Abstract

Out-of-pocket payments are an inefficient and inequitable system of health financing. It leads many people into poverty and poses a barrier to access to healthcare since it drives the poorer households quickly into poverty. Kenya has identified Universal Health Coverage as a critical element in transforming the country into middle-income under the Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda. This study explored the factors that influence health insurance uptake among residents of Nyeri County using cross sectional data. The study employed probit model to carry out estimations. Estimation results reveals that marital status, age, income, level of education, size of household, employment status, financial literacy, location of health insurance provider and the distribution channels positively influence health insurance uptake. However, literacy campaigns conducted in the county have not been effective in influencing the uptake of health insurance. The study recommends that insurance providers including the health ministry should continuously plan for health insurance products and conduct targeted literacy campaigns for each demographic especially informal workers, low income and unmarried youth population.