This study found a significant association between health insurance coverage and under-five mortality, revealing that children of uninsured mothers had a notably higher risk of mortality. Specifically, 96.46% of the children assessed were born to mothers without...

Update on Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights the effectiveness of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme in reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) by saving over ₹1.25 lakh crore and significantly increasing government health spending, which rose from 29.0% to 48.0% between...

Over 90% of China’s village clinics covered by basic medical insurance
Over 90% of village clinics in China are covered by basic medical insurance, with the government investing in upgrades and aiming to enhance grassroots healthcare by 2027 through integration and the use of artificial intelligence. More than 90% of village clinics in...

Use of PhilHealth’s excess funds legal, economically sound
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto defended the transfer of PHP 89.9 billion in excess funds from PhilHealth to the national treasury, asserting that it is legal, moral, and necessary to address the growing needs of the nation, while ensuring that no member contributions...

State Life builds digital, service capacity to expand universal health benefits to entire Pakistan
The State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLIC) is committed to providing universal health insurance coverage to 180 million citizens. By offering comprehensive health services and integrating performance-linked funding, SLIC aims to enhance healthcare access...

PLFSS 2025: Thomas Fatôme details the financial challenges facing the French health insurance system
The Director General of the Caisse Nationale de l'Assurance Maladie presented the Social Security Financing Bill for 2025 to the French Senate: a slightly lower deficit (13.4 billion euros), and a national target for health insurance expenditure of +2.7%. Savings of...

Private health funds in Australia are gouging prices on insurance premiums despite warning from minister
Health Minister Mark Butler is urging an investigation into private health insurers for "product phoenixing," which involves closing existing policies and reopening similar ones at higher prices, thereby raising premiums without regulatory approval. Despite previous...

Social Insurance Coverage for Informal Sector Workers in Viet Nam
Vietnam's voluntary social insurance program has significantly expanded over 30 years, reaching 2.311 million participants, but to meet the 2030 target of 60% coverage, further reforms are needed. The World Bank is collaborating with Vietnam Social Security to enhance...

Bad news about National Health Insurance in South Africa
Government spending on healthcare in South Africa has decreased significantly in recent years, with the National Health Insurance (NHI) plans facing challenges due to prioritization of debt servicing over essential services. In recent years, government spending on...

Unpacking the new co-pay rule in Thailand
The new co-payment rule, effective March 20 in Thailand, requires private health insurance policyholders to share a portion of medical expenses. It aims to manage rising healthcare costs and encourage responsible consumption. The upcoming co-payment rule is poised to...

Saudi Arabia explores prospect of scrapping insurance approvals for health services
Saudi Arabia is considering eliminating health insurance approvals to reduce delays for beneficiaries, though concerns about rising healthcare costs remain. The Saudi Insurance Authority reported over 400,000 complaints in 2024, and plans to publish performance...

‘No plans’ to allow private health cover of GP care
Australia does not plan to create a two-tier healthcare system by bringing in private insurers for GP care. The Health Minister shuts down all calls for letting private insurers cover GP care.Calls to lift the ban on private health insurers subsidizing GP visits have...

Malaysia to develop basic health insurance, takaful products for more sustainable medical treatment access
Bank Negara Malaysia is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Employees Provident Fund to develop basic health insurance and takaful products focused on value-based healthcare, aiming to reform the national health sector and manage rising medical...
A Chinese conundrum: does higher insurance coverage for hospitalization reduce financial protection for the patients who most need it?
This paper analyzes how cost-sharing impacts the use of outpatient and inpatient health services in China. The study reveals that increased cost-sharing for outpatient services leads to decreased outpatient usage while simultaneously increasing reliance on inpatient...

Czechia mulls merging health insurers amid persistent financial struggles
The Czech government is considering merging health insurance funds to enhance efficiency and address financial challenges within the public healthcare system, but stakeholders warn that this approach may not resolve deeper structural issues, such as ongoing deficits...