Experts: children’s insurance cover key to bridge funding 

Poviding direct medical cover for young children ensures that they receive consistent, specialized, and preventive care they need to thrive, independent of their parents’ employment, private health sector players have warned.

They argue that thus approach supports better health outcomes for children and aligns with public health priorities. This was reached at during last week’s launch of J-Junior Medical Cover by Jubilee Health Insurance, where experts also noted that collaboration between government and health stakeholders will not only enhance access to quality healthcare but also alleviate financial burden on individuals and families due to high medical costs.

In a first of its kind, the J-Junior Medical Cover offers direct medical cover for young children, rather than making them beneficiaries under their parents’ insurance. According to Dr Tim Kimbowa from Mulago hospital, children need consistent access to healthcare and direct medical cover guarantees that they will have uninterrupted coverage regardless of their parents’ employment status or insurance changes,” said.

“Parents may switch jobs, lose benefits, or face other disruptions that can leave children without necessary healthcare if they are only covered through their parents’ insurance,” he said.

He added that direct medical cover for children can mitigate the financial strain on families, particularly those with limited resources or those facing high out-of-pocket costs under family plans.

“It can provide more predictable and manageable healthcare costs, allowing parents to budget more effectively.”

On his part, Dr Charles Zavuga, a paeditrician, said given that children have unique healthcare needs that differ from adults, direct medical cover can be tailored specifically to pediatric care, ensuring coverage for immunizations, regular check-ups, developmental screenings and
specialized pediatric services.

“Such targeted coverage is essential for early detection and treatment of health issues specific to children. What’s more, when children have their own medical coverage, there is a stronger emphasis on preventive care, which includes regular health check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings. Preventive care helps in early detection and treatment of health issues, reducing the likelihood of more serious and costly medical problems later.”

In fact, the recent findings in the World Bank’s 23rd Uganda Economic Update Report shows that one million Ugandans slip into poverty annually due to out-of-pocket health expenses.

PERSPECTIVE

Despite the concerning statistic, the country has made remarkable strides towards achieving universal health coverage. The percentage of households impoverished due to out-of-pocket expenditure on health has continued to decrease since 2005, highlighting that investments in the health sector are yielding positive outcomes.

“As key healthcare stakeholders, we closely monitor research that informs the state of our sector. We are encouraged by the progress towards universal access to medical care. As part of our company’s effort to significantly reduce out-of- pocket expenses, we will continue to innovate affordable products that meet the diverse health needs of individuals,” said Dan Musiime, Jubilee Health Insurance CEO.

Discussing the J-Junior product, Musiime noted that it was developed in response to recent statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) and the ministry of Health, which revealed significant gaps in healthcare access and outcomes for children in Uganda. Research shows that the under-five mortality rate stands at 46 deaths per 1,000 live births, with many children suffering from preventable illnesses due to a lack of timely medical care.

“To promote equity and social justice, we must address mortality rates by offering solutions that ensure children have the opportunity to survive and thrive, regardless of their socio-economic background,” said Musiime.

“J-Junior is the first comprehensive health insurance policy in Uganda designed specifically for children between zero to 17 years, aiming to provide them with the essential healthcare they need.”

The J-Junior policy can be purchased through the Jubilee Uganda website, partner banks including DTB, KCB, Ecobank, Absa, dfcu, and I&M, as well as through licensed Jubilee Health Insurance agents and insurance brokers.