Effects of expanding a non-contributory health insurance scheme on out-of-pocket healthcare spending by the poor in Turkey

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TİRGİL A., Dickens W. T., Atun R.

BMJ GLOBAL HEALTH, vol.4, no.4, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 4 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001540
  • Journal Name: BMJ GLOBAL HEALTH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Keywords: health systems, health systems evaluation, health economics, health policy, health insurance, FINANCIAL BURDEN, RISK PROTECTION, EXPENDITURE, PAYMENTS, IMPOVERISHMENT, CATASTROPHE, MORTALITY, COVERAGE, INCOME
  • Ankara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Introduction Insufficient or no health insurance creates financial access barriers to healthcare services, especially for vulnerable populations. The Green Card scheme, a non-contributory government-funded health insurance scheme for the poor in Turkey, was expanded in 2003-2006 and has provided citizens with extended benefits. We study the effects of this expansion of the Green Card scheme on out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures for low-income households.