The Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage systematically documents the reforms of its member countries and other countries that have expanded health coverage through demand-side financing. The case studies contained in these pages are brief, comparative and modular in nature, describing the key highlights and technical features of each program.
Compare various dimensions of country reform efforts using our interactive tool.
| Program | Types of benefits | Benefits package |
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| Vietnam: Compulsory and Voluntary Health Insurance Schemes |
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HCFP offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes both inpatient and outpatient care. Excluded are interventions covered by vertical programs such as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, treatments not yet approved by the MoH, various “luxury” interventions such as cosmetic surgery, certain dental procedures, and treatment of self-inflicted injuries and drug addiction, among others. Read full sectionHCFP offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes both inpatient and outpatient care. Excluded are interventions covered by vertical programs such as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, treatments not yet approved by the MoH, various “luxury” interventions such as cosmetic surgery, certain dental procedures, and treatment of self-inflicted injuries and drug addiction, among others. The benefits package is essentially the same for everyone, except the poor, children under 6, pensioners, and meritorious persons who are exempted from copayment or have lower copayment rate. The following services are covered under all health programs: medical consultation, diagnosis and treatment, X-ray and laboratory tests, functional examination, imaging diagnosis, drugs listed by the MoH, blood and transfusion, surgery, antenatal examination and delivery. In addition to these items, the insurance also covers the cost (up to a certain limit) of a defined list of high-technology treatments (including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hemodialysis and laser surgery among a total of 177 specified high-tech procedures). The following exemptions, some of which are covered by the national target programs, are imposed: leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria, schizophrenia, epilepsy, STD, vaccination, convalescence, early-detected pregnancy, medical check-ups, family planning services and infertility treatments, prosthesis, aesthetic surgery, artificial arm, leg, tooth, glasses, hearing-aid machines, occupational diseases, war injuries, accidents at work place, treatment for suicide, self-inflicted injuries, drug addiction, medical appraisal, forensic appraisal, mental examination, home care, rehabilitation and delivery. Compulsory and Voluntary Health Insurance SchemesBenefits package Types of Benefits: Comprehensive HCFP offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes both inpatient and outpatient care. Excluded are interventions covered by vertical programs such as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, treatments not yet approved by the MoH, various “luxury” interventions such as cosmetic surgery, certain dental procedures, and treatment of self-inflicted injuries and drug addiction, among others. The benefits package is essentially the same for everyone, except the poor, children under 6, pensioners, and meritorious persons who are exempted from copayment or have lower copayment rate. The following services are covered under all health programs: medical consultation, diagnosis and treatment, X-ray and laboratory tests, functional examination, imaging diagnosis, drugs listed by the MoH, blood and transfusion, surgery, antenatal examination and delivery. In addition to these items, the insurance also covers the cost (up to a certain limit) of a defined list of high-technology treatments (including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hemodialysis and laser surgery among a total of 177 specified high-tech procedures). The following exemptions, some of which are covered by the national target programs, are imposed: leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria, schizophrenia, epilepsy, STD, vaccination, convalescence, early-detected pregnancy, medical check-ups, family planning services and infertility treatments, prosthesis, aesthetic surgery, artificial arm, leg, tooth, glasses, hearing-aid machines, occupational diseases, war injuries, accidents at work place, treatment for suicide, self-inflicted injuries, drug addiction, medical appraisal, forensic appraisal, mental examination, home care, rehabilitation and delivery. |
| Estonia: Estonian Health Insurance Fund |
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The EHIF covers a broad range of services, including family physicians services, in- and out-patient care, long-term care, rehabilitation, and prescription drugs. Children through 19 years of age are also eligible for free dental care, including preventive and curative services. Meanwhile, adults receive partial reimbursement for dental care. Read full sectionThe EHIF covers a broad range of services, including family physicians services, in- and out-patient care, long-term care, rehabilitation, and prescription drugs. Children through 19 years of age are also eligible for free dental care, including preventive and curative services. Meanwhile, adults receive partial reimbursement for dental care. All Estonians register on a family doctor’s practice list. Doctors can refuse to add a patient if the patient lives outside the practice region or when the practice list is full. In 2005 only 13% of patients changed doctors and these cases were primarily due to a change in residence. Family doctors are required to hold a minimum of 20 visiting hours per week and the practice must remain open at least eight hours per day. Patients must get access to their doctor within one day for acute problems and within three days for chronic conditions. If certain services are not available in Estonia, patients can seek care abroad. In non-urgent situations, patients must seek approval from the EHIF. The service must be medically justifiable and must be proven efficacious with a probability of success of at least 50%. In order to add new benefits to be covered under EHIF, the managerial board conducts an evaluation process and recommends services to the supervisory board, which then proposes them to the Ministry of Social Affairs where they are reviewed and sent to the government for approval once per year. There are four criteria for including or excluding services from the benefits package:
Estonian Health Insurance FundBenefits package Types of Benefits: Comprehensive The EHIF covers a broad range of services, including family physicians services, in- and out-patient care, long-term care, rehabilitation, and prescription drugs. Children through 19 years of age are also eligible for free dental care, including preventive and curative services. Meanwhile, adults receive partial reimbursement for dental care. All Estonians register on a family doctor’s practice list. Doctors can refuse to add a patient if the patient lives outside the practice region or when the practice list is full. In 2005 only 13% of patients changed doctors and these cases were primarily due to a change in residence. Family doctors are required to hold a minimum of 20 visiting hours per week and the practice must remain open at least eight hours per day. Patients must get access to their doctor within one day for acute problems and within three days for chronic conditions. If certain services are not available in Estonia, patients can seek care abroad. In non-urgent situations, patients must seek approval from the EHIF. The service must be medically justifiable and must be proven efficacious with a probability of success of at least 50%. In order to add new benefits to be covered under EHIF, the managerial board conducts an evaluation process and recommends services to the supervisory board, which then proposes them to the Ministry of Social Affairs where they are reviewed and sent to the government for approval once per year. There are four criteria for including or excluding services from the benefits package:
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| Rwanda: Mutuelles de Sante |
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The benefits package in Rwanda has two primary parts: the Minimum Package of Activities (MPA) and the Complementary Package of Activities (CPA). The MPA covers all services and drugs provided at the health centers including pre- and post-natal care, vaccinations, family planning, minor surgical operations, and essential and generic drugs. All individuals in Rwanda with health insurance are entitled to comprehensive, subsidized preventative care through the MPA. The CPA covers a limited number of services at the district hospitals, including the cost of hospitalization, caesarian operations, minor and major surgical operations, medical imaging, and all diseases afflicting children ages 0 to 5 years. Read full sectionThe benefits package in Rwanda has two primary parts: the Minimum Package of Activities (MPA) and the Complementary Package of Activities (CPA). The MPA covers all services and drugs provided at the health centers including pre- and post-natal care, vaccinations, family planning, minor surgical operations, and essential and generic drugs. All individuals in Rwanda with health insurance are entitled to comprehensive, subsidized preventative care through the MPA. The CPA covers a limited number of services at the district hospitals, including the cost of hospitalization, caesarian operations, minor and major surgical operations, medical imaging, and all diseases afflicting children ages 0 to 5 years. As of 2006, the CPA benefits package was extended to cover select services in national hospitals. In order to receive these benefits, individuals must be referred from the health centers to district or national level hospitals. Mutuelle members are entitled to comprehensive benefits for primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care provided through public or private non-profit contracted facilities. The scheme provides basic services such as family planning, pre-natal care, consultations, basic laboratory examinations, generic drugs, and hospital treatment. All medications from hospitals are also included in the benefits. For those covered under RAMA, benefits include all the major preventative services in addition to all curative services and pharmaceuticals. The benefits package for MMI is the same as RAMA, with the addition of prostheses coverage added under MMI. Excluded are contact lenses and braces as well as cosmetic surgery for purely aesthetic reasons. RAMA and MMI have signed contracts with all public health centers and reference hospitals, as well as 16 private institutions. MMI has the added advantage of using military hospitals, thus, individuals covered under these plans are able to access health care benefits at almost all health centers in Rwanda. Mutuelles de SanteBenefits package Types of Benefits: Comprehensive The benefits package in Rwanda has two primary parts: the Minimum Package of Activities (MPA) and the Complementary Package of Activities (CPA). The MPA covers all services and drugs provided at the health centers including pre- and post-natal care, vaccinations, family planning, minor surgical operations, and essential and generic drugs. All individuals in Rwanda with health insurance are entitled to comprehensive, subsidized preventative care through the MPA. The CPA covers a limited number of services at the district hospitals, including the cost of hospitalization, caesarian operations, minor and major surgical operations, medical imaging, and all diseases afflicting children ages 0 to 5 years. As of 2006, the CPA benefits package was extended to cover select services in national hospitals. In order to receive these benefits, individuals must be referred from the health centers to district or national level hospitals. Mutuelle members are entitled to comprehensive benefits for primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care provided through public or private non-profit contracted facilities. The scheme provides basic services such as family planning, pre-natal care, consultations, basic laboratory examinations, generic drugs, and hospital treatment. All medications from hospitals are also included in the benefits. For those covered under RAMA, benefits include all the major preventative services in addition to all curative services and pharmaceuticals. The benefits package for MMI is the same as RAMA, with the addition of prostheses coverage added under MMI. Excluded are contact lenses and braces as well as cosmetic surgery for purely aesthetic reasons. RAMA and MMI have signed contracts with all public health centers and reference hospitals, as well as 16 private institutions. MMI has the added advantage of using military hospitals, thus, individuals covered under these plans are able to access health care benefits at almost all health centers in Rwanda. |
| Ghana: National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) |
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The basic benefits package is fairly extensive and purports to cover 95% of all health problems reported in Ghanaian health care facilities, though there is a noticeable emphasis on female reproductive health. Expensive, highly specialized care such as dialysis and organ transplants are not covered by the NHIS. ARVs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS are also not covered as these drugs are supplied by a separate government program. Read full sectionThe basic benefits package is fairly extensive and purports to cover 95% of all health problems reported in Ghanaian health care facilities, though there is a noticeable emphasis on female reproductive health. Expensive, highly specialized care such as dialysis and organ transplants are not covered by the NHIS. ARVs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS are also not covered as these drugs are supplied by a separate government program. The health services covered by the NHIS are laid out in the minimum basic benefits package. The list also delineates prescribed medicines. Benefits for maternity care include antenatal care, caesarean sections, and postnatal care for up to six months after birth. Treatment for breast and cervical cancer are included in the package, although treatment for other cancers is not. NHIS Benefits Package Outpatient services
Inpatient services
Oral health
Maternity care
Emergencies
Exclusions list
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)Benefits package Types of Benefits: Comprehensive The basic benefits package is fairly extensive and purports to cover 95% of all health problems reported in Ghanaian health care facilities, though there is a noticeable emphasis on female reproductive health. Expensive, highly specialized care such as dialysis and organ transplants are not covered by the NHIS. ARVs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS are also not covered as these drugs are supplied by a separate government program. The health services covered by the NHIS are laid out in the minimum basic benefits package. The list also delineates prescribed medicines. Benefits for maternity care include antenatal care, caesarean sections, and postnatal care for up to six months after birth. Treatment for breast and cervical cancer are included in the package, although treatment for other cancers is not. NHIS Benefits Package Outpatient services
Inpatient services
Oral health
Maternity care
Emergencies
Exclusions list
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| Philippines: PhilHealth |
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PhilHealth beneficiaries have access to a nearly comprehensive package of services, including inpatient care, catastrophic coverage, ambulatory surgeries, deliveries, and outpatient treatment for malaria and tuberculosis. Those identified as indigent and OFW are also entitled to outpatient primary care. Read full sectionPhilHealth beneficiaries have access to a nearly comprehensive package of services, including inpatient care, catastrophic coverage, ambulatory surgeries, deliveries, and outpatient treatment for malaria and tuberculosis. Those identified as indigent and OFW are also entitled to outpatient primary care. More specifically, services included range from:
Except for the outpatient primary care that the poor and OFW are entitled to via public providers, there is free choice of providers for beneficiaries, both public and private. Annual or lifetime coverage limits do exist. These limits are expressed in terms of volumes of services (e.g., days) rather than a peso coverage limit. For example, member households are eligible for 45 days of inpatient admission, sharing 45 days among all household members. Each day of ambulatory surgery counts as a day of admission. While there is no formal system that sets fixed deductibles or co-payments, health care providers are allowed to charge the patient the balance between the total cost of care and what PhilHealth pay (i.e., balance billing). There are some waiting periods before beneficiaries can access care; waiting periods differ by population category:
PhilHealthBenefits package Types of Benefits: Comprehensive PhilHealth beneficiaries have access to a nearly comprehensive package of services, including inpatient care, catastrophic coverage, ambulatory surgeries, deliveries, and outpatient treatment for malaria and tuberculosis. Those identified as indigent and OFW are also entitled to outpatient primary care. More specifically, services included range from:
Except for the outpatient primary care that the poor and OFW are entitled to via public providers, there is free choice of providers for beneficiaries, both public and private. Annual or lifetime coverage limits do exist. These limits are expressed in terms of volumes of services (e.g., days) rather than a peso coverage limit. For example, member households are eligible for 45 days of inpatient admission, sharing 45 days among all household members. Each day of ambulatory surgery counts as a day of admission. While there is no formal system that sets fixed deductibles or co-payments, health care providers are allowed to charge the patient the balance between the total cost of care and what PhilHealth pay (i.e., balance billing). There are some waiting periods before beneficiaries can access care; waiting periods differ by population category:
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| Thailand: Universal Coverage Scheme |
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UCS beneficiaries are entitled to a comprehensive benefits package, including both inpatient and outpatient care. In addition to curative services (with some exclusions), UCS provides for preventive care for all Thai citizens, focused on health promotion and disease prevention (e.g., immunizations, annual physical checkups, premarital counseling, antenatal care and family planning services, etc.). Recently, coverage has also been extended to ARV treatment for HIV/AIDs and renal replacement therapy. Read full sectionUCS beneficiaries are entitled to a comprehensive benefits package, including both inpatient and outpatient care. In addition to curative services (with some exclusions), UCS provides for preventive care for all Thai citizens, focused on health promotion and disease prevention (e.g., immunizations, annual physical checkups, premarital counseling, antenatal care and family planning services, etc.). Recently, coverage has also been extended to ARV treatment for HIV/AIDs and renal replacement therapy. The curative package covers ambulatory and hospitalization services with some exclusions, such as cosmetic surgery, infertility treatments, organ transplants, and the provision of private room and board. For high-cost care, the UCS has adopted a similar package to the one provided by the SSS in order to standardize the packages across the scheme to minimize inequities in health care services. Thus, substantial high-cost interventions are offered. All contracted public and private providers are bound to provide registered beneficiaries with these and other preventative services. ART treatment and renal replacement therapy coverage was extended beginning in October 2003 and January 2008 respectively, because of strong social movements pushing for these inclusions. In January 2008, based on a cost-benefit analysis, the NHS Board decided to provide the seasonal flu vaccination to high-risk groups. There was no increase to the budget because it was determined that it costs less to vaccinate for the flu than to treat it. Evidence from a cost-benefit analysis showing that the cost of treatment and care for flu patients in high-risk groups is higher than the cost of vaccination has resulted in the decision to provide seasonal flu vaccination to high-risk groups. The decision to expand benefits to include renal replacement therapy from January 2008 is forecasted to increase the burden on the health care system. The table below illustrates some high cost inclusions and exclusions in the UCS. Included services
Excluded services
Universal Coverage SchemeBenefits package Types of Benefits: Comprehensive UCS beneficiaries are entitled to a comprehensive benefits package, including both inpatient and outpatient care. In addition to curative services (with some exclusions), UCS provides for preventive care for all Thai citizens, focused on health promotion and disease prevention (e.g., immunizations, annual physical checkups, premarital counseling, antenatal care and family planning services, etc.). Recently, coverage has also been extended to ARV treatment for HIV/AIDs and renal replacement therapy. The curative package covers ambulatory and hospitalization services with some exclusions, such as cosmetic surgery, infertility treatments, organ transplants, and the provision of private room and board. For high-cost care, the UCS has adopted a similar package to the one provided by the SSS in order to standardize the packages across the scheme to minimize inequities in health care services. Thus, substantial high-cost interventions are offered. All contracted public and private providers are bound to provide registered beneficiaries with these and other preventative services. ART treatment and renal replacement therapy coverage was extended beginning in October 2003 and January 2008 respectively, because of strong social movements pushing for these inclusions. In January 2008, based on a cost-benefit analysis, the NHS Board decided to provide the seasonal flu vaccination to high-risk groups. There was no increase to the budget because it was determined that it costs less to vaccinate for the flu than to treat it. Evidence from a cost-benefit analysis showing that the cost of treatment and care for flu patients in high-risk groups is higher than the cost of vaccination has resulted in the decision to provide seasonal flu vaccination to high-risk groups. The decision to expand benefits to include renal replacement therapy from January 2008 is forecasted to increase the burden on the health care system. The table below illustrates some high cost inclusions and exclusions in the UCS. Included services
Excluded services
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