An Assessment of Patterns and Determinants of Health Insurance Coverage Among Older Adult Migrants in India.

Background: The elderly face more illnesses than other age groups, leading to a greater need for healthcare, especially those who are migrants. Similarly, Health Insurance is crucial for guaranteeing equitable access to medical resources and fostering the well-being of the overall population.

Objective: Considering the context, this study aims to assess the pattern and determinants of health insurance coverage among migrant older adults in India.

Data and Methods: The study utilizes data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, Wave 1 (2017-18). The migration variable has been created based on the question from the LASI survey instrument: ‘How many years have you been living (continuously) in this area?’. Further, the Bivariate model examined the relationship between socio-economic and demographic characteristics and health insurance coverage among older adult migrants. Lastly, binary logistic regression was applied to determine the determinants of health insurance coverage among older adult migrants in India.

Results: The study reveals that about 23% of migrant older adults have health insurance. Jammu & Kashmir has the lowest coverage at 24.41%, while Chandigarh reports the highest at 93.51%. Female migrants have higher coverage than males, and widowed migrants are more likely to be insured compared to divorced or never-married ones. Additionally, urban older adult migrants have better coverage (64%) than those in rural areas (55%).

Conclusion: The study reveals significant disparities in health insurance coverage among older adult migrants in India. The study will help with targeted interventions to enhance health insurance accessibility among vulnerable migrant populations.