Health Insurance - A New Dimension in Health Care Services in ...

2 Health Insurance - A New Dimension in Health Care Services in Bangladesh:
A Study of It's Perspectives, Problems and Prospects
(iii) Domiciliary Services - it consists of any medical treatments provided at the residence,
specially for the elderly group.
Health Insurance may cover the various types of Health Care Services for insured either in
group or signal. The various schemes under Health Insurance in different countries differ in
many ways but they can always be identified by either of the two categories: -
(i) Social Health Insurance (SHI): The management of SHI is principally the responsibility
of the government of a country. In a few cases, SHI is entirely financed by the government,
but in most cases expenses are borne mutually by the government and the insured, former
usually bearing the major portion. In countries where SHI had so long been financed by the
government alone, the beneficiary members are now required to contribute also. And in
others (jointly shared), government support is constantly declining. *2
(ii) Private Health Insurance (PHI): As the name suggests, PHI is organized through
private initiative alone and the government does not perform any direct role. PHI may be sold
either as a group insurance or individual or both. *3
Perspectives of Health Insurance in Bangladesh
The existing facilities of Health Care Services of Bangladesh are:
1. Government Health Care Facilities
2. Private Health Care Facilities
The standard of Government Health Care Facilities in Bangladesh is very poor in comparison
with developed countries. Bangladesh-- as a least developed country, the infra-structural
facilities of it's Health Care are in-adequate and below the international standard. Taking
these limitations of Government Health Care Facilities as opportunities, a sizable number of
Clinics/Private hospitals have emerged within a decade with relatively better services at a
higher cost. However, the costs of enjoying private health care services are beyond the
affordability of the limited income group (where almost 80% are dependent on agricultural
sector) of Bangladesh.
When there is a health problem to any person, he/she needs expert medical help to combat
critical illnesses. Moreover timely treatment is possible when they have necessary fund to pay
the cost of health care services. In Bangladesh, it becomes really difficult for the fixed
income groups to pay the charges of private health care services. The head of the family can
be free from worrying about, the expense of the treatment if the family is under health
insurance coverage. The target market of the Health Insurance Products are service holders in
various organization for Group Hospitalization Insurance(GHI); and for Individual
Hospitalization Insurance (1111) & Family Hospitalization Insurance (FHI) the target
markets are middle class family
Since Health Insurance is a valuable means of getting Health Care services for the fixed
income groups, it is rapidly becoming popular practice not only in the developed