Oluwole Babatunde

Willingness to Pay for Community Health Insurance in Rural Areas: Implication for Policy Direction Oluwole Babatunde

Abstract Background: Willingness to pay data are rarely collected or used as part of designing health insurance schemes in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess household heads? willingness to pay for community health insurance and its determinants. Methodology: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Sample size of 360 was determined using Fishers formula and multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents. Semi structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used and data analysis was done using Epi-info version 3.4.1. Results: Respondents were willing to pay was 522.0 + 266.3 Naira per annum per household member (3.26 + 1.66 US Dollars). The factors that affect Willingness to pay were age, sex, educational attainment, income, household size, and past health expenditure. Conclusion: The amount of premium that should be fixed for Community Health Insurance in these rural communities should range between 250 Naira to 1,200 Naira (1.56 + 7.50 US Dollars) per annum per household member. Target Group 1. Public Health students 2. Health Insurance Companies 3. Non-Governmental Organizations 4. Governments leaders at various levels