Objective
Rwanda has expanded mutual health insurance considerably in recent years, which has a great
potential for making health services more accessible. In this paper, we examine the impact of
mutual health insurance (MHI) on utilization of health services and financial risk protection.
Methods
We used data from a nationally representative survey from 2005-2006. We analysed this data
through summary statistics as well as regression models.
Findings
Our statistical modelling shows that MHI coverage is associated with significantly increased
utilization of health services when they are needed. Indeed, individuals in households that had
MHI coverage used health services twice as much as those in households that had no
insurance coverage. Additionally, it is also associated with a higher degree of financial risk
protection and the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure was almost four times higher
in households with no coverage. Nonetheless, the limitations of the MHI coverage also
become apparent.
Conclusion
These promising results strongly indicate that MHI has had a strong positive impact on access
to health care and can continue to improve health of Rwandans even more if its limitations are
addressed further.