Health insurance literacy: discussion and reaction of Facebook users’ towards the National Health Insurance in Indonesia

  • Tika Indiraswari
    Doctoral Program of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya; Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Serambi Mekkah, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
  • Stefanus Supriyanto
    Department of Health Policy and Administration, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
  • Ernawaty
    Department of Health Policy and Administration, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
  • Nuzulul Kusuma Putri
    Department of Health Policy and Administration, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.

ABSTRACT

Universal Health Coverage always persevered as a pro poor policy in many countries, characterized by a major impact on higher out-of-pocket healthcare costs, with low-cost alternative prescription drugs and capitation payments made to physicians, in order to reduce inequity. These concerns have been discussed widely on social media, including Facebook, but social media are consistently neglected as a source of scientific information. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to analyze the thought process or feelings of individuals about the policies, also focusing on the possible reactions. Hence, a systematic review in the form of discussion forums on the Facebook page of the National Health Insurance Agency, Indonesia was conducted from 2015 to 2016, with regards to the implementation of National Health Insurance, within a year and half after the policy was launched. In addition, the contents of 148 discussions were deductively analyzed, and the findings showed the pragmatic disposition of most Facebook users towards health care utilization, the costs of Insurance, and the possible benefits of payment. Furthermore, the debate conducted in social media related with the policy and its practice issues ought to be countered through appropriate modification.