Social health insurance contributes to universal coverage in South Africa but generates inequities: survey among members of a government employee insurance scheme
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Goudge, Jane
Alaba, Olufunke A
Govender, Veloshnee
Harris, Bronwyn
Nxumalo, Nonhlanhla
Chersich, Matthew F
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BioMed Central
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Many low- and middle-income countries are reforming their health financing mechanisms as part of broader strategies to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). Voluntary social health insurance, despite evidence of resulting inequities, is attractive to policy makers as it generates additional funds for health, and provides access to a greater range of benefits for the formally employed. The South African government introduced a voluntary health insurance scheme (GEMS) for government employees in 2005 with the aim of improving access to care and extending health coverage. In this paper we ask whether the new scheme has assisted in efforts to move towards UHC.
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