Effect of the catastrophic medical insurance on household catastrophic health expenditure: evidence from China / El efecto del seguro médico para enfermedades catastróficas o de alto coste sobre el gasto doméstico en salud: la evidencia en China

OBJECTIVE: China launched an innovative program of catastrophic medical insurance (CMI) to protect households from catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishment. This article assesses the effect of CMI on relieving CHE and impoverishment from catastrophic illnesses in urban and rural China. METHOD: In total, 8378 cases are included in the analysis. We employed descriptive statistical analysis to compare the incidence and intensity of CHE at five health expenditure levels, from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015. To illustrate the different protection of the policy, we analyzed the data in two lines, the covered medical expenses and the total medical expenses. RESULTS: CMI drop down CHE incidence from 4.8% to 0.1% and the mean catastrophic payment gap from 7.9% to zero when only considering covered medical expenses. CMI drop down CHE incidence from 15.5% to 7.9% and the mean catastrophic payment gap from 31.2% to 14.7% when considering total medical expenses. If CMI reimburse uncovered medical expenses at 30%, the mean catastrophic payment gap could be 7.9% and insured person's annual premium will increase US$2.19. CONCLUSIONS: China CMI perfectly meet the pursued policy objectives when only considering the covered medical expenses. However, when considering the total medical expenses, the CMI is only partially effective in protecting households from CHE. The considerable gap is the result of the limitation of CMI list

OBJETIVO: China lanzó un innovador programa de Seguro Catastrófico de Salud (SCS) para proteger a los hogares del gasto sanitario catastrófico (GSC) y el empobrecimiento. Este artículo evalúa el efecto del SCS para aliviar el GSC y el empobrecimiento a causa de las enfermedades catastróficas en zonas urbanas y rurales de China. MÉTODO: En total, se incluyen 8378 casos en el análisis. Se emplearon análisis estadísticos descriptivos para comparar la incidencia y la intensidad del GSC en cinco niveles de gastos de salud, del 1 de junio de 2014 al 31 de mayo de 2015. Para ilustrar la diferente protección de la política se analizaron los datos en dos líneas: los gastos sanitarios cubiertos por el seguro y los gastos sanitarios totales. RESULTADOS: Considerando los gastos cubiertos por el seguro, se redujeron los hogares con gastos catastróficos del 4,8% al 0,1%, y la brecha de pago catastrófico media cayó del 7,9% al 0,0% en promedio. Cuando consideramos el gasto sanitario total, los hogares con gasto catastrófico se redujeron del 15,5% al 7,9%, y la brecha de pago catastrófico media cayó del 31,2% al 14,7% en promedio. Esta cantidad podría reducirse al 7,9% si se reembolsara el 30% a los gastos no cubiertos por el SCS, lo que supondría un aumento de la prima del seguro por persona de US$ 2,19. CONCLUSIONES: El SCS de China cumple perfectamente los objetivos de la política perseguida cuando solo se consideran los gastos cubiertos por el seguro. Si se consideran los gastos totales, el SCS solo es parcialmente efectivo para proteger a los hogares del gasto sanitario catastrófico. El motivo de este desfase es la limitación existente en la lista de servicios cubiertos por el SCS

Effect of the catastrophic medical insurance on household catastrophic health expenditure: evidence from China.

OBJECTIVE: China launched an innovative program of catastrophic medical insurance (CMI) to protect households from catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishment. This article assesses the effect of CMI on relieving CHE and impoverishment from catastrophic illnesses in urban and rural China. METHOD: In total, 8378 cases are included in the analysis. We employed descriptive statistical analysis to compare the incidence and intensity of CHE at five health expenditure levels, from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015. To illustrate the different protection of the policy, we analyzed the data in two lines, the covered medical expenses and the total medical expenses. RESULTS: CMI drop down CHE incidence from 4.8% to 0.1% and the mean catastrophic payment gap from 7.9% to zero when only considering covered medical expenses. CMI drop down CHE incidence from 15.5% to 7.9% and the mean catastrophic payment gap from 31.2% to 14.7% when considering total medical expenses. If CMI reimburse uncovered medical expenses at 30%, the mean catastrophic payment gap could be 7.9% and insured person's annual premium will increase US$2.19. CONCLUSIONS: China CMI perfectly meet the pursued policy objectives when only considering the covered medical expenses. However, when considering the total medical expenses, the CMI is only partially effective in protecting households from CHE. The considerable gap is the result of the limitation of CMI list.