IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 5113: Understanding the Problem of Access to Public Health Insurance Schemes among Cross-Border Migrants in Thailand through Systems Thinking

The objective of this study was to apply systems thinking to explore contextual factors affecting access to public health insurance among cross-border migrants in Thailand. A group model building approach was applied. Participants (n = 20) were encouraged to share ideas about underlying drivers and barriers of migrants’ access to health insurance. The causal loop diagram and stock and flow diagram were synthesised to identify the dynamics of access to migrant health insurance. Results showed that nationality verification is an important mechanism to deal with the precarious citizenship status of undocumented migrants. However, some migrants are still left uninsured. The likely explanations are the semi-voluntary nature of the Health Insurance Card Scheme, administrative delay of the enrollment process, and resistance of some employers to hiring migrants. As a result, findings suggest that effective communication is required to raise acceptance towards insurance among migrants and their employers. A participatory public policy process is needed to create a good balance of migrant policies among diverse authorities.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - July 14, 2020 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Watinee Kunpeuk Pard Teekasap Hathairat Kosiyaporn Sataporn Julchoo Mathudara Phaiyarom Pigunkaew Sinam Nareerut Pudpong Rapeepong Suphanchaimat Tags: Article Source Type: research