Field Based Evidence of Enhanced Healthcare Utilization among Persons Insured by Micro Health Insurance Units in Philippines

This article examines the association between affiliation to micro health insurance units (MIU) and healthcare utilization. The paper analyzed field data from 6 MIUs in the Philippines in 2002, which included a household survey of 890 insured and 1063 uninsured households.

Underutilization of healthcare is common among low-income and rural populations in countries with low income or inequitable income distribution. MIUs are created by informal sector groups because people cannot access health insurance or are dissatisfied with services that they can access.

The paper states that grassroots initiatives such as MIUs make a real contribution to better healthcare utilization. Study findings include:

• Insured persons reported higher hospitalization rates and higher frequency of primary-care physician encounters;
• Insured persons also reported higher rates of professionally attended deliveries, diagnosed chronic diseases and better drug compliance among chronically ill;
• Increased utilization by the insured is not due to adverse selection.