International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 14, 2019

Assessment of a voluntary non-profit health insurance scheme for migrants along the thai-myanmar border: A case study of the migrant fund in thailand (Article) (Open Access)

Pudpong N.* , Durier N. , Julchoo S. , Sainam P. , Kuttiparambil B. , Suphanchaimat R.
  • a International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, 11000, Thailand
  • b Dreamlopments Ltd, Bangkok, 10310, Thailand
  • c International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, 11000, Thailand
  • d International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, 11000, Thailand
  • e UNICEF Thailand Country Office, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
  • f International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, 11000, Thailand, Department of Disease Control, Bureau of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, 11000, Thailand

Abstract

Access to health care and financial protection for migrants can be promoted through diverse health insurance schemes, designed to suit migrants’ needs within a specific context. The Migrant Fund (M-Fund) is a voluntary, non-profit health insurance scheme operating along the Thai-Myanmar border in Thailand since 2017 and aims to protect the health of migrants uncovered by existing government insurance schemes. A qualitative evaluation was conducted between December 2018 and March 2019 to determine M-Fund’s operational impacts, provide recommendations for improvement, and draw suggestions about its role in protecting migrant health. In-depth interviews with 20 individuals and 5 groups were conducted in three categories: (1) International, national, and local partners; (2) M-Fund clients; and (3) M-Fund staff. Interview information was triangulated with findings from other informants, a document review, and researchers’ observations. Despite covering a small number of 9131 migrants, the M-Fund has contributed to improving access to care for migrants, raised awareness about migrant health protection, and reduced the financial burden for public hospitals. The M-Fund acts as a safety-net initiative for those left behind due to unclear government policy to protect the health of undocumented/illegal migrants. Despite clear merits, the issue of adverse selection to the scheme is a critical challenge. Evidence from this evaluation is useful to inform the future design of government insurance schemes for migrants. © 2019 by the authors.

Author Keywords

Health insurance Undocumented migrant M-Fund Migrant Fund Health protection migrant Illegal migrant Migrant health

Index Keywords

scientist Thailand health insurance human controlled study interview migrant staff qualitative analysis clinical article Myanmar Article prophylaxis awareness adult human experiment government Health Policy illegal immigrant health monitoring public health nonprofit organization immigrant population
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85070964850&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16142581&partnerID=40&md5=2bfcf6bf96e5f563d25f6859054348e7
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16142581
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English