People’s Perspective on Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for Healthcare: A Qualitative Study From Pune, India

Abstract

BackgroundOut-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) directly reflects the burden of health expenses that households bear. Despite the availability of social security schemes providing healthcare benefits, a high proportion of Indian households are still incurring OOPE. In order to recognize the reasons behind OOPE, a comprehensive understanding of people's attitudes and behavior is needed. MethodologyBy purposive sampling, 16 in-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide in the catchment area of urban and rural health centers of a tertiary healthcare hospital. Interviews were conducted in Marathi and Hindi and were audio tape-recorded after taking informed consent. The interviews were transcribed and translated into English, followed by a thematic analysis. ResultsAlthough most participants knew that government hospitals provide facilities and experienced doctors, inconvenience and unsatisfactory quality deter them from utilizing government facilities. A few had experiences with government schemes; almost all concur that the formality and procedure of claiming insurance are cumbersome and all have had bad experiences. Cost of medications and consultation accounted for the majority of the healthcare expenditures. While some participants had benefitted from insurance, few regretted not enrolling in one. ConclusionThe awareness regarding government schemes was derisory. Government-financed health insurance schemes and their utilization are crucial to reducing OOPE. Efforts should be made to increase accessibility to public healthcare services. Nevertheless, there is potential to redress the barriers to improve scheme utilization.

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for Selected Surgeries in the Cardiology Department for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Private Health Insurance, and Uninsured Patients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Karnataka, India

“…The objective of this study is to contribute insights to the ongoing discourse on healthcare reform and to argue for policies that will mitigate the financial strain of OOPE on individuals and communities. The OOPE of patients may vary depending on their payment modes; cash, private insurance, or government health insurance [ 11 ].…”