Abstract

BackgroundChina has successfully sustained its universal health insurance coverage over the past decade. Although patient satisfaction has been recognized as an important indicator to measure the performance of insurance programs in China, there is a lack of evidence on how patients with chronic diseases are satisfied with China’s public health insurance programs and whether their satisfaction differs by type of insurance. We aimed to fill the evidence gap.MethodsWe established a hypothetical model that comprised patients’ awareness of insurance policies, the fulfillment of patients’ expectations of insurance benefits, patients’ perceived value of health insurance coverage, patients’ satisfaction with health insurance programs, patients’ complaints, and trust in health insurance programs. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis by using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to examine the hypothesized model. A model-testing survey in 10 tertiary hospitals was conducted between June and October 2018, with a valid sample of 922 insured patients with chronic diseases.ResultsThe SEM model, with good fit indices, showed that patients’ awareness of health insurance policies, insurance program’s fulfillment of expectations, and patients’ perceived value of insurance coverage, positively predicted patient satisfaction (P < 0.01). The fulfillment of patients’ expectations of insurance benefits was the major predictor of satisfaction with health insurance (coefficient = 0.593, P < 0.001), while the patients’ perceived value of insurance coverage had the largest impact on their trust in health insurance (coefficient = 0.409, P < 0.01). Compared to patients with Urban-Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance, Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance enrollees had a higher degree of satisfaction with insurance on average (P < 0.01). Despite differences in the degree of satisfaction, the main findings from the SEM were also proved by the multi-group analysis.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the importance of incorporating patients’ perceived value as part of the ongoing efforts to increase satisfaction with health insurance by patients, especially those who have chronic diseases. Policymakers are also suggested to formulate evidence-informed reimbursement policies that meet patients’ expectations.

Highlights

  • China has successfully sustained its universal health insurance coverage over the past decade

  • This study presents findings from a 2018 survey of patient satisfaction with China’s public health insurance programs, which can be used as baseline information for future research on whether China’s new policies achieve the goal of improving patient satisfaction with public insurance

  • Demographic characteristics of the study patients A total of 966 patients consented to participate in the structural equation modeling (SEM) survey

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Summary

Introduction

China has successfully sustained its universal health insurance coverage over the past decade. In response to the rising challenges, China’s central government initiated a nationwide healthcare reform in 2009, aiming to develop a universal basic health insurance system and offer safe, effective, convenient, and affordable healthcare services for all its populations, especially those who have chronic diseases. By the end of 2011, China successfully achieved universal health insurance coverage (UHC) through three major public health insurance programs, including Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI), New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS), and Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI) [4]. Chinese governments have taken further reform measures with priorities on broadening the scope of insurance benefit coverage, increasing fiscal subsidies, financing levels, and reimbursement rates, as well as improving provider payment mechanisms [5]. One recent study highlighted gaps in the quality of care, control of chronic diseases, efficiency in delivery, control of health expenditures, and public satisfaction [8]

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