การใช้สวัสดิการรักษาพยาบาลของวัยแรงงานไทย

Abstract

This research was aimed at studying the use of the national medical benefit insurance scheme among various members of the Thai working age, as well as related determinant factors. Data obtained from the Health and Welfare Survey, conducted in 2013 by the National Statistical Office of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, were used in the study. The results showed that more than half (55.02 %) of the working age utilized the medical insurance scheme during that year. Hence, the proportion of the working age obtaining benefits was only slightly higher than the proportion of nonusers. Logistic regression analysis of the usage of the scheme and associated factors, i.e. factors related to the individuals’ background and their ability to receive health care services, and factors related to their illness, revealed that the factors that were significant in determining the usage of medical benefits among the Thai working age were region of the country, type of medical benefit programs, personal medical problems, symptoms, and level of illness severity. On the other hand, insignificant factors associated with the usage of the scheme were the sex, age, education, number of members in the household (household size), marital status, and residential area of the individuals concerned. Based on the study results and in accordance with the hypotheses of this study, it was found that individuals with different backgrounds and ability to receive health care services, and those with varying levels of illness would make different decisions regarding their use of such benefits.