Health Insurance Support on Maternal Health Care: Evidence from Survey Data in India

Abstract

AbstractMaternal healthcare financing is key to the smooth functioning of maternal health systems in a country. In India, maternal healthcare persists as a significant public health issue. Adequate health insurance could transform the utilization of maternal health care services to prevent maternal consequences. This paper aims to examine the health insurance policies that cover maternal health and their performance in India. The unit-level social consumption data on health by the National Sample Survey Organizations (NSSO), conducted in India (2017-18), is used. Bi-variate analysis, logistic regression, and propensity scoring matching (PSM) are used to evaluate the coverage of health insurance coverage on women’s maternal health care utilization. Our findings suggest that spending on health insurance can benefit pregnant women, especially among the poor, without financial stress. The study has also minimized the financial burden and prevent high-risk pregnancy-related complications and consequences. Also, there is a need for proactive and inclusive policy development by the Government of India to promote more health insurance schemes in the public and private sectors. This can bring down the risk of maternal mortality and also boost the Indian economy in terms of a better quality of life in the long run, and the way towards more just and more egalitarian societies.HighlightsAround 14.1% of Indian women are covered with health insurance schemes.Muslim women have the lowest health insurance coverage in India.Women covered with health insurance schemes has showed significant contributor to the better utilization of full ANC and institutional delivery compared to uncovered women in India.A proactive and inclusive policy development is needed by the Government of India to promote more for health insurance schemes better quality of life in the long run.