Does national health insurance promote access to quality health care? Evidence from Nigeria

Abstract

Since the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was established in Nigeria, in 1999, not much study has been carried out to investigate whether access to quality health care has improved as a result of the introduction of the scheme. Using primary data from Lagos, this study applies logistic regression to evaluate participation in the NHIS among employees in the formal sector. The study found that although low awareness is a major factor affecting participation in the scheme, the NHIS has the potential to promote access to quality health care particularly among educated couples. In the formal sector participation may be improved if employers comply with the directive making the scheme compulsory for all employees, while in the informal sector it may be improved through an awareness campaign about the benefits of NHIS. © 2008 The International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics.