Factors Determining the Enrolment in Community-based Health Insurance Schemes: A Cross-sectional Study from Coastal South India

BACKGROUND: Community-based health insurance (CBHI) has been one of the options of health financing in India for a large number of population from the informal sector constituting about 90% of the total population. The objective of this study was to find out what are the factors which have influenced the beneficiaries to enroll in the schemes and also compared them to a noninsured group. METHODS: A cross-sectional household survey, on 1639 households, was carried out, which had 1108 insured household and 530 noninsured households with a 2:1 ratio. A multivariate analysis was used to find out the determinants of enrolment. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis revealed that household variables such as gender of household head, religion, and family size were determinants of enrolment. CONCLUSION: The sociodemographic characteristics of the households do influence the acceptability of the CBHI schemes.