Thursday, November 18, 2010

[EQ] How Health Insurance Design Affects Access To Care And Costs, By Income, In Eleven Countries

How Health Insurance Design Affects Access To Care And Costs, By Income, In Eleven Countries

Cathy Schoen1,*, Robin Osborn2, David Squires3, Michelle M. Doty4, Roz Pierson5 and Sandra Applebaum6

1 Cathy Schoen is senior vice president for policy, research, and evaluation at the Commonwealth Fund, in New York City.
2 Robin Osborn is a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund and director of its International Program in Health Policy and Innovation.
3 David Squires is a program associate for research and programs in the International Program in Health Policy and Innovation, Commonwealth Fund.
4 Michelle M. Doty is assistant vice president and director of survey research at the Commonwealth Fund.
5 Roz Pierson is a vice president at Harris Interactive, in New York City.
6 Sandra Applebaum is a research manager at Harris Interactive.


Health Affairs, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0862 - Published online November 18, 2010

Available online at: http://bit.ly/9ZwmGF

“……This 2010 survey examines the insurance-related experiences of adults in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

The countries all have different systems of coverage, ranging from public systems to hybrid systems of public and private insurance, and with varying levels of cost sharing.

Overall, the study found significant differences in access, cost burdens, and problems with health insurance that are associated with insurance design. US adults were the most likely to incur high medical expenses, even when insured, and to spend time on insurance paperwork and disputes or to have payments denied.

Germans reported spending time on paperwork at rates similar to US rates but were well protected against out-of-pocket spending. Swiss out-of-pocket spending was high, yet few Swiss had access concerns or problems paying bills. For US adults, comprehensive health reforms could lead to improvements in many of these areas, including reducing differences by income observed in the study….”.

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This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
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[EQ] Lecture: Health Systems based on Primary Health Care - Tuesday November 23, 2010

Health Systems based on Primary Health Care

Presents:

Dr. Thelma Narayan, 

Centre for Public Health and Equity

Society for Community Health, Awareness, Research and Action (SOCHARA)

TUESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2010 from 14:00 – 16:00   (EST)

To check local time in WDC against your time zone, see the World Clock at:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html
 


Link to participants – Via Elluminate:

To login to the Elluminate session, use the link below and type your name on the sign in page: http://bit.ly/9K9Xva

Participants in person: PAHO Headquarters Office Room B


Agenda
           

14:00 – 14:05 Welcome, Dr. José Luís Di Fabio,

                    Manager, a.i., Area of Health Systems based on Primary Health Care, Pan American Health Organization
           

14:05 – 14:15  Opening, Dr. Socorro Gross-Galiano, Assistant Director, Pan American Health Organization

           

14:15 – 16:00  Presenter Dr. Thelma Narayan, Director Centre for Public Health and Equity,(SOCHARA), Bangalore, India

           

 

A series of short presentations followed by interactive discussions

 

1. Civil Society Role in Public Health in India

 

Civil Society has helped engage communities with public policies that concern health, health determinants and health care. India is home to a vibrant civil society which is alert, articulate and proactive. It is a land full of social movements addressing varying issues. However the contextual challenges are formidable. So while gains have been made, challenges continue. The experiences of the Peoples' Health Movement and its constituent members including SOCHARA and related campaigns and activities will be shared and discussed.

 

2. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) India - strengthening the public health system through public engagement and multistakeholder participation.

 

Launched in 2005 the National Rural Health Mission of India is considered one of the largest current public health initiatives in terms of its size, scope and ambition. Progressive equity oriented health goals and objectives were backed up by operational mechanisms through a Framework of Implementation passed by the federal Cabinet. Mechanisms include flexible financing, human resource development, infrastructure development, communitisation, decentralisation and participatory governance. Given the scale and the overall low per capita public expenditure on health challenges are many.
How can the health and development community, including civil society and the international community participate, support and learn from this initiative in a spirit of social solidarity?

 

More information at website: http://bit.ly/9CidsZ

 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]
Washington DC USA

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
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Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
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IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended
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confidential information. If you are not the intended
recipient or a person responsible for delivering this
transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take
any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission
in error, please dispose of and delete this transmission.

Thank you.