Economic crisis of rural patients insured with critical illness insurance: Do working‐age patients have higher financial burden?. (27th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Junnan; Chen, Shanquan; Xin, Yanjiao; Li, Lu; Xiang, Li
• Is Part Of: Health & social care in the community. Volume 29:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 496
• Page End: 505
• Publication Date: 2020-07-27
• Subjects: critical illness insurance -- direct cost -- indirect cost -- medical debt -- working age; Public welfare -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Human services -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-0410

Abstract

Abstract: Working‐age patients are generally found to have higher healthcare expenditure than elder. China implemented critical illness insurance (CII) in 2012 to decrease the medical expenditure of patients. The aim of this study was to determine if the economic burden of rural working‐age patients with CII was more serious than other age groups. A questionnaire survey was undertaken in two counties of central and western China in 2017. Comprehensive financial measurement was used, including direct costs, indirect costs and medical debt rate. All data collected were used for descriptive statistics and multivariate variance analysis. Linear regression with random effect analysis upon area was used to evaluate the differences in ages. A total of 834 rural patients were surveyed in this study. Patients aged 18–44 years had the highest lodging and food payments (3, 838 Chinese Yuan [CNY]), work loss (15, 350 CNY) and medical debt rate (83.24%). Patients who were of working age, sought health services out of counties, had longer length of stay, and were diagnosed with chronic illness had higher healthcare expenditure. Rural working‐age patients with CII had higher direct and indirect costs, which were attributed to medical debt. The increased service capability of hospitals in counties and improved medical financial assistance may also be issues of concern.