The study estimates the prevalence and intensity of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) in Iran as a valuable measure to monitor financial protection in health sector payments. It also investigates the main factors that influence the probability of CHE. This study used the data from eight national repeated cross-sectional surveys on households’ income and expenditure to measure CHE in rural and urban areas in Iran.
An increasing number of Iranians suffered CHE between 2008 and 2015. Solutions involve revision of financial health care protection policies focusing on pre-payment options. These schemes could target low-income populations particularly in rural areas, provide more coverage for catastrophic medical services through basic benefit packages, and develop supplementary health insurance.