HEALTH INSURANCE PLIGHT OF PATIENTS WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE

ABSTRACT

Despite a chronic condition that demands frequent medical follow-up as well as sometimes urgent treatment and hospitalization; many patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are not obtaining the care that they need. The biggest cause for lack of adequate treatment is due to the patient’s lack of health insurance coverage. This research sought out to objectively analyze the health insurance dilemma of patients with sickle cell disease in Edo State, Nigeria, and the ramifications of such results. It is suggested that the circumstances underlying the absence of health insurance may be significant enough to generate lack of access to health care. The research design employed for the study was a field survey investigation. The population of the research comprises all sickle cell patients that belong to three(3) different group of ‘warriors’(as they are widely called) and health management organization that offers health care services under the national health insurance program. A sample of 120 warriors and 10 health management organization were given the questionnaire online. The Data was examined by means of descriptive and qualitative methodologies. The outcomes of the research indicated that i. majority of health management organization (HMO) polled do not give health insurance policy cover for sickle cell illness. (ii) The financial burden of the sickle disease is carried largely by either patients or families without aid everywhere save for the handful that have meaningful work with health insurance benefit. This study recommends that there should enact law to provide free and compulsory health service to all patients with sickle cell, public awareness of the dangers of two incompatible persons getting married must be a subject of public campaign by relevant organs of governments, hospitals and health organization.