Health insurance coverage and its impact on medical cost: observations from the floating population in China.
BACKGROUND
China has the world's largest floating (migrant) population, which has characteristics largely different from the rest of the population. Our goal is to study health insurance coverage and its impact on medical cost for this population.


METHODS
A telephone survey was conducted in 2012. 644 subjects were surveyed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted on insurance coverage and medical cost.


RESULTS
82.2% of the surveyed subjects were covered by basic insurance at hometowns with hukou or at residences. Subjects' characteristics including age, education, occupation, and presence of chronic diseases were associated with insurance coverage. After controlling for confounders, insurance coverage was not significantly associated with gross or out-of-pocket medical cost.


CONCLUSIONS
For the floating population, health insurance coverage needs to be improved. Policy interventions are needed so that health insurance can have a more effective protective effect on cost.
Department of Risk Factor Surveillance, National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Yinjun
Y
Zhao
Actuarial Department, China Life Insurance Company Limited, Beijing, China.
Bowei
B
Kang
School of Statistics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China.
Yawen
Y
Liu
Department of Risk Factor Surveillance, National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Yichong
Y
Li
Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program Department of Education and Training, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Guoqing
G
Shi
Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program Department of Education and Training, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Tao
T
Shen
Department of Risk Factor Surveillance, National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Yong
Y
Jiang
Department of Risk Factor Surveillance, National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Mei
M
Zhang
Department of Risk Factor Surveillance, National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Maigeng
M
Zhou
Department of Risk Factor Surveillance, National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Limin
L
Wang
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult