HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSCRIPTION IN THE CAPE COAST METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT The study examined subscription to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Specifically, the study examined trends of subscription in the metropolis from 2005 to 2014, as well as barriers and motivation for subscription. The research adopted descriptive and explanatory study designs. Checklist and in-depth interview guides were used in collecting data from NHIS databases and 30 residents of the metropolis. Informed consent was sought from respondents before including them in the study. Analysis was done using SPSS and Excel. The study found that NHIS subscription generally increased from 2005 to 2014. By 2014, the scheme had covered about 41 percent of the population of the Metropolis, and 38 percent of the Ghanaian population. It was also realised that the major motivational factors to health insurance subscription were; being able to access health care at a cheap cost as the health insurance premium is affordable, NHIS providing access to free drugs, serving as a safeguard against health challenges, financial protection against unforeseen health challenges and the scheme allowing people the ability to save extra money for other needs. Friends, family members and colleagues, were found to be major factors motivating subscription to the NHIS. The study realised that major barriers to NHIS subscription were long queues and waiting time, perceived poor quality of drugs, corruption and negative attitude of services providers. Workshops should be organised by the National Health Insurance Authority and the Ghana Health Service, to entreat their workers, to exhibit positive attitudes towards clients in the exercise of their duties, so as to motivate more people to subscribe to the scheme.