Experiences of the Insured and Non-Insured of the NHIS in Accessing Health-care in Tema, Ghana

The study analyzes the impacts emanating from the National Health Insurance Scheme in its attempt to ensuring that Ghanaians can access quality and affordable health-care. The study focuses on three hospitals; CJ Medical Centre, Sakumono Community Hospital and Tema General Hospital in the Tema, Ghana.To realize the objectives, the study applies a mixed approach to collecting and analyzing data. An interview guide and semi-structured criteria are used in the collection of data. The collected data included qualitative and quantitative data and were analyzed using color coding based on emerging themes and SPSS 18 respectively. The study was able to establish that, comparatively, people insured by the NHIS have enhanced accessibility when it comes to health-care, than the non-insured. The insured enjoy benefits from the Scheme and together with their children below 18 years enjoy free laboratory, OPD dispensary and consultation services, and some surgical procedures in both private and public hospitals.On the contrary, the non-insured have no option other than paying for the same services when in need of medical attention. However, non-insured who have cash at the ready are readily attended to while those enrolled on the NHIS may have to wait a bit longer to be served.Recommendations include authorities ensuring claims are settled promptly, expansion of number of drugs and conditions covered by the NHIS, reduction in premiums and measures to ensure health workers are not biased against the insured.