Planned behavior theory: Exploring health risk, insurance literacy, and infrastructure effects

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to create a comprehensive health insurance coverage model, integrating key factors like health insurance literacy, health illness, and healthcare infrastructure availability, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as its theoretical foundation. In Gujarat, India, a cross-sectional survey involving 1005 respondents was conducted. The survey measured the effects of health insurance literacy, health illness, and healthcare infrastructure availability on health insurance coverage. Data analysis was performed using Hayes's process macros model, considering socio-demographic factors to understand their influence on health insurance coverage. Unexpectedly, healthcare infrastructure and health insurance literacy didn't significantly affect health insurance coverage. However, attitude emerged as a key factor, influencing the intention to purchase health insurance alongside all independent variables. The study's model, incorporating health insurance literacy, health illness, healthcare infrastructure, and the TPB, provided detailed insights into the factors affecting health insurance coverage. The study highlights the critical role of attitude as a mediating factor in health insurance coverage, while demonstrating the minimal impact of healthcare infrastructure and health insurance literacy. It offers a novel model integrating TPB variables, providing valuable perspectives for policymakers, insurers, and healthcare providers.