Skip to main content

Table 1 Overview of analytical framework

From: Subsidized health insurance coverage of people in the informal sector and vulnerable population groups: trends in institutional design in Asia

Institutional design aspect

Related policy choices

Intermediate output Indicators

UHC progress indicators

Eligibility and enrolment rules

 Groups eligible for exemption from contributions/subsidization

Definition of vulnerability (e.g. low income, poverty, informal sector, children, pregnant women)

Share of eligible among the bottom two income quintiles and other vulnerable groups

Total population coverage (i.e. enrolment in health insurancefund), differentiated along income quintiles

 Targeting method

E.g. universal (based on a very broad criterion such as residence or no employment in the formal sector), indirect (based on socio-demographic, socio-economic or geographic characteristics usually correlated with poverty and vulnerability), direct (through a means assessment or proxy means testing); different targeting approaches can be in place at the same time for different groups

Share of the exempted/subsidized within total (insured) population; share of the exempted/subsidized among those being targeted for exemption/subsidization (targeting effectiveness of the system), Income groups exempted/subsidized

 Enrolment process

Active enrolment by the beneficiary or automatic enrolment by the authorities

 Type of membership of the exempted/subsidized

Voluntary or mandatory

 

 Organization responsible for identification

E.g. insurance company; central, regional, local government

 

Financial arrangements

 Degree of subsidization/co-contribution

Full or partial (a co-contribution is required)

Share of the exempted/subsidized within total (insured) population; share of the exempted/subsidized among those being targeted for exemption/subsidization (importance of budget transfers)

 Type of transfer logic

Individual-based (a specific amount is being paid for each exempted individual) or lump-sum (a lump sum transfer for the entire population is made)

  

 Calculation logic to determine the amount of funds to be transferred

E.g. based on regular contribution levels, minimum or average wages, specific percentage of the government budget, negotiated by the government

  

 Financing source of the budget transfers

E.g. general government revenues from central or sub-national levels, earmarked government revenues, transfers from other health insurance funds (cross-subsidization), donor funding

Sufficient funding for a comprehensive benefit package

Level of cross-subsidization from contributions

Financial protection (incidence of catastrophic/impoverishing health expenditure) a;

Access to services

Pooling arrangements

 Type of pool(s) (general)

Single pool or multiple pools

Degree of fragmentation,

Size and composition of pools,

Level of cross-subsidization

Equity in access,

Equity in financing,

 Type of pool (exempted/subsidized)

Exempted/subsidized integrated in the pool with contributors, or separate pool for the exempted/subsidized

 Type of health insurance affiliation membership of the contributors

Voluntary or mandatory

Financial protection

Purchasing arrangements and benefit package design

 Range of services covered by the benefit package

E.g. comprehensive, in-patient focus, out-patient focus, pharmaceuticals, dental care, indirect costs (e.g. transportation)

 

Financial protection,

Access (utilization rates),

Equity in access

Different or same package as that for contributors

Efficiency

 Degree of cost-sharing

Cost-sharing mechanisms (e.g. co-insurance, co-payment, deductible) and rates

 

 Provider-payment mechanisms

Type of payment and rate

  
  1. aCatastrophic health expenditure occurs when a household’s total out-of-pocket health payments equal or exceed 40 % of the household’s non-subsistence spending, as per the WHO definition. Impoverishing health expenditure means that out of pocket expenditure shifts a household below the poverty line or even deeper into poverty [23]