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. 2014 Nov 11;9(11):e111555.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111555. eCollection 2014.

Health insurance coverage and its impact on medical cost: observations from the floating population in China

Yinjun Zhao  1 , Bowei Kang  2 , Yawen Liu  3 , Yichong Li  1 , Guoqing Shi  4 , Tao Shen  4 , Yong Jiang  1 , Mei Zhang  1 , Maigeng Zhou  1 , Limin Wang  1
Affiliations

Health insurance coverage and its impact on medical cost: observations from the floating population in China

Yinjun Zhao et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: China has the world's largest floating (migrant) population, which has characteristics largely different from the rest of the population. Our goal is to study health insurance coverage and its impact on medical cost for this population.

Methods: A telephone survey was conducted in 2012. 644 subjects were surveyed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted on insurance coverage and medical cost.

Results: 82.2% of the surveyed subjects were covered by basic insurance at hometowns with hukou or at residences. Subjects' characteristics including age, education, occupation, and presence of chronic diseases were associated with insurance coverage. After controlling for confounders, insurance coverage was not significantly associated with gross or out-of-pocket medical cost.

Conclusion: For the floating population, health insurance coverage needs to be improved. Policy interventions are needed so that health insurance can have a more effective protective effect on cost.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: One of the co-authors is employed by China Life Insurance Company Limited, but this study has no competing interests or financial disclosure with this company. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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