DOES COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Objective: The present study was undertaken to understand whether insurance played a role in health seeking behaviour among women undergoing hysterectomy. Method: A pre-tested questionnaire was developed and evaluated on 776 females who underwent hysterectomy. Results: Majority [32%] of insured patients had symptoms of less than 6 months duration, while in a majority [30%] of uninsured patients it was more than 2 yrs. Also the most severe disease that is carcinoma [uterine or ovarian or tubal] is seen more among uninsured patients [17%] compared to insured women [11%]. Conclusion: This indicates that insured patients are seeking health services earlier than uninsured ones and before the benign form of disease progresses to malignant one.