Perspectives On Universal Health Insurance And Coverage Of Traditional Medicine: The Case Of Taiwan

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Richard W. Pouder PhD, Professor (Creator)
David Williams, Professor of Healthcare Management (Contributor)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/

Abstract: Inclusion of traditional medical therapies is one consideration in determining the range of services to be covered under universal health insurance. Having introduced a single-payer universal health insurance system in the 1990s that covers specified traditional therapies, Taiwan represents a distinctive setting in which to learn about the experiences with traditional therapies. This paper examines the perceptions of health care professionals and insured individuals in Taiwan about their satisfaction with the Taiwanese national health insurance (NHI) system inregards to the coverage of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In-person interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals and a survey was administered to insured individuals to understand the perceived satisfaction with TCM coverage by the NHI system. Results show that perceived satisfaction with TCM is high in the NHI system in Taiwan, which is consistent with previous research. Perceived belief in TCM is seen as being related to perceived satisfaction with NHI. Satisfaction with TCM reimbursement and choice of TCM treatments are associated with overall satisfaction with NHI. The results, combined with previous literature, suggest that the universal health system designed with consent of the populace in mind may lead to better satisfaction with the health system post-development. Practical suggestions based on the experiences in Taiwan could be useful to stakeholders in other countries and economies that are considering the integration of traditional medicines into their universal health insurance system.

Additional Information

Publication
Chuang, C., Coffey, B., Williams, D., & Pouder, R. (2015). "Perspectives On Universal Health Insurance And Coverage Of Traditional Medicine: The Case Of Taiwan." Journal of International Business Research, Vol. 14, #1 January 2015. Publisher version of record available at: https://www.abacademies.org/journals/month-january-year-2015-vol-14-issue-1-journal-jibr-past-issue.html
Language: English
Date: 2015
Keywords
Traditional medicine, Universal Healthcare, Health insurance, Taiwan

Email this document to