Preferences and Selection of Health Plans by Members of an Employer Based Medical Scheme

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the current study was to explore employee preferences for health plans offered by members of an employer based medical scheme. Study design: The study was a cross section survey on a restricted scheme or an employer based medical scheme. Multinomial logistic regression model were employed on the outcome variable, which was the attributes of choosing a health plan.  Results: The study revealed that affordability access to benefits, and health care needs as most prevalent attributes for choosing health plans and the response rates were 28.1 %, 22.0% and 21.2%, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression model results revealed demographic characteristics such as gender (p=0.005), age (p<0.0001), income (p=0.0129), ethnicity (p=0.0062), and health plan characteristic (p<0.001) as significant effects of choosing a health plan.  Conclusion: Comprehensive and affordable health care remains a problem for many, even in insured groups of individuals on employer sponsored health plans. Access to benefits, healthcare needs and convenient access a service provider remain second key attributes to choosing health plans.  Originality/value: The study is original research work on medical schemes members and provides insightful and meaningful results on preference by purchasers of private health insurance plans.