Willingness to pay for a hypothetical HIV/AIDS insurance in Iran

Abstract

Introduction:In contrast to regional trend, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a serious health concern in Iran. Access to antiretroviral therapy is free in the country, and can result in a heavy economic burden for public sector in the near future. The purpose of this study was to investigate the willingness to pay for hypothetical HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) insurance in people living in Tehran. Material and methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 participants, aged over 23 years in 2018. The survey was conducted using multi-stage cluster sampling, and included questions on socio-demographics, exposure to HIV risk, and willingness to pay for a hypothetical insurance scheme. Results:The majority of participants expressed a willingness to pay for hypothetical insurance coverage within the 3-6 million IRR range, with the largest group (20.1%) willing to pay between 1-2 million IRR ($US 66-133). Fewer than half of the participants (45.3%) were willing to pay for insurance coverage, with significant variations observed among socio-demographic subgroups. The primary reason cited by participants for declining to purchase insurance was their perception of the low risk of HIV infection. After investigating socio-demographic factors, exposure to HIV risk was associated with a 9.1% higher odds of WTP (OR = 0.913; 95% CI: 816-0.968%, p < 0.01).Conclusions: This analysis provided initial estimations of willingness to pay for HIV/AIDS insurance in Iran. The findings can provide evidences, which can contribute to planning for a sustainable delivery of HIV treatment.