Determants of choice of health insurance in Tanzania: the case study of Dar es Salaam

This study sought to determine and analyse factors that influence the choice of health insurance in Tanzania, taking Dar es Salaam as a case study, in all three districts. In determining these factors, a number of household health characteristics were regressed on the chosen health insurance scheme using logistic regression analysis. The analysis utilized primary data from Dar es Salaam region, which was collected through administering a questionnaire that solicited for information on household characteristics and health status of workers, who were the respondents of the questionnaire from various institutions. The study found that years of working, institution (i.e., being a worker in either privaye or public institution), education of respondent and education of spouse, and income are the main factors that influence positively the choice of health insurance scheme. It was also found that, some people within the scheme opt for out of pocket payment for health services because some of these schemes do not provide full coverage. In view of the above findings, the study recommends that insurance companies should include schemes whose prices are affordable by the majority of Tanzanians with low incomes; schemes need to include both curative and preventive aspects; and the government need to expand public health services, at least to cater for those who cannot afford private insurance.