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Social Health Insurance and the Use of Formal and Informal Care in Developing Countries: Evidence from Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme

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  • Stephen O. Abrokwah
  • Kevin Callison
  • Donald J. Meyer

Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between the use of formal and informal health care in a developing country setting by examining the introduction of a social health insurance scheme in Ghana. We estimate the effects of gaining coverage on changes in care seeking behaviour and show how these effects differ by age and wealth status. District-level differences in the implementation of the insurance scheme provide exogenous variation in access to insurance and allow us to address issues with selection into coverage. Results indicate that insurance access strongly increased use of formal care and reduced out-of-pocket expenditures on health services.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen O. Abrokwah & Kevin Callison & Donald J. Meyer, 2019. "Social Health Insurance and the Use of Formal and Informal Care in Developing Countries: Evidence from Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(7), pages 1477-1491, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:55:y:2019:i:7:p:1477-1491
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2017.1414192
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    Cited by:

    1. Indra Kurniawan, Muhammad, 2021. "Has access to health insurance through the Indonesian social security system improved peoples understanding of health issues? Evidence from a national survey," Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers 14, Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers.
    2. Jacob Novignon & Eric Arthur & Kwasi Gyabaa Tabiri & Yaw Boateng Atakorah & Justice Nonvignon, 2024. "Does health insurance mitigate the economic impact of negative health outcomes? Evidence from Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 26(2), pages 582-602, August.

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