Hanvoravongchai, Piya2013-05-062013-05-062013-01https://hdl.handle.net/10986/13298Thailand's model of health financing and its ability to rapidly expand health insurance coverage to its entire population presents an interesting case study. Even though it is still a middle-income country with limited fiscal resources, the country managed to reach universal health insurance coverage through three main public schemes: the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), the Social Security Scheme (SSS), and the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS). The UCS, which is the largest and most instrumental scheme in the expansion of coverage to the poor and to those in the informal sector, is the focus of this report. It describes the nuts and bolts of the UCS as a key component of the health financing system in Thailand. It analyzes Thailand's experience in health insurance coverage expansion within limited fiscal constraints through various mechanisms to contain costs. It also explores the two commonly discussed approaches for the universal coverage movement: the expansion model (starting from covering the poor and formal sector to universal coverage) and the comprehensive approach (covering the entire population at the same time).en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOaccess to health careaccess to servicesadult mortalityAdult mortality rateadverse selectionadverse selection problemsagedbig citiesbudget allocationbudget capbudget ceilingbudget constraintsbudget increasebudgetary impactcapitationcapitation paymentcataract surgerycatastrophic health expenditurecatastrophic health spendingCenter for Healthcervical cancercervical cancer screeningchild survivalchoice of providercitiescitizenscivil society organizationsclinical staffclinicsCommunicable diseasescommunity healthcost controlcost sharingcost-effectivenesscosts of health careDecision makingdemand for servicesdeveloping countriesdiabetesdiagnosisDrug AdministrationDrug Listdrug supplydrugsearly detectionelderlyemergenciesemergency medical careemergency servicesethical considerationsfamiliesfee schedulefee schedulesFinancial impactfinancial incentivesfinancial riskfinancial risksGlobal HealthHealth Affairshealth carehealth care centershealth care financehealth care financingHealth Care Informationhealth care providerhealth care providershealth care provisionHealth Care Reformhealth care servicesHealth Care Systemhealth care utilizationhealth centershealth conditionsHealth CoverageHealth Expenditurehealth facilitiesHealth FinancingHealth Financing Reformhealth financing systemhealth fundinghealth informationhealth insurancehealth insurance programhealth insurance schemeshealth insurance systemhealth interventionshealth needsHealth Organizationhealth outcomesHealth Policyhealth postshealth professionalshealth promotionHealth Reformshealth sectorhealth serviceHealth Serviceshealth spending shareHealth Systemhealth system performancehealth systemsHealth Systems Researchhealth workershealth workforcehealthcarehealthcare servicesHIV/AIDShospitalHospital Accreditationhospital bedshospitalshousehold surveyshypertensionill healthImmunizationincentive paymentsincidence analysisincomeincome countriesinfantinfant mortalityInfant mortality rateinformal sectorinformal sector workersinformation systeminjuriesinpatient admissioninpatient careInterventionlarge populationliabilitylife expectancyLife expectancy at birthMedical Benefitmedical doctorsMedical ServicesmedicationmedicinesMental HealthMinistry of Educationmoral hazardmorbiditymortalitynational campaignNational Healthnational health spendingnational policynationalsnumber of peoplenursesnursingoutpatient careoutpatient servicespatientpatient participationpatientspharmaceutical companiespharmacistsPharmacoeconomicsPhysicianPhysicianspocket paymentspolicy makerspolitical climatePolitical leadershippolitical partypregnant womenprescriptionsprimary careprivate clinicsprivate hospitalsprivate insurersprivate pharmaciesprivate sectorprovider paymentprovision of carePublic Healthpublic health carepublic health insurancepublic health insurance schemepublic health servicespublic hospitalspublic insurancepublic insurance schemespublic providerspublic schemespublic sectorpurchaser-provider splitquality careQuality Controlquality improvementquality of carerehabilitationresearch communityricher populationsrural areasscreeningservice providersservice provisionshare of public spendingsmall enterprisesSocial Securitysurgerytechnical capacitytherapeuticstreatmentsTuberculosisuniversal accessuniversal health insurance coverageurban areasuser feesvaccinationsVisitsworkersWorld Health OrganizationWorld Bank10.1596/13297