Low participation in national health insurance scheme in Central Region OF Ghana: underlying reasons and health seeking behaviour of both insured and uninsured.

This study investigated the reasons for low participation in national health insurance scheme and health seeking behaviour of both insured and uninsured in central Twifo hemang Lower Denkyira district in Central Region of Ghana. Data were collected from both household heads who are enrolled in NHIS and those who have not been enrolled in the district for the purpose of analysis. The researcher employed interview schedule as data collection instrument used for the collection of the data from the respondents. In total, 400 household heads were interviewed. The study found that the major barrier to national health insurance scheme enrollment is affordability of the premiums. If the annual premium is paid in a lump sum, household heads find it more difficult to pay. Therefore this study recommends that national health insurance scheme annul premium could be paid on installment basis rather than lump sum. Thus the payment of annual premium could be spread out over the year. Also, government should strengthen policies to enhance income level.