Achieving Universal Health Coverage Through Health Insurance: The Case of Readymade Garment Industry’s Employees in Bangladesh

<i>Aim</i>: this study aims at assessing the contribution of health insurance for the employees of selected garment factories in reducing OPP in terms of% of total costs of medical treatment, identifying the problems of health insurance and claim realisation and developing a model for the effective health insurance, which is expected to contribute in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). <i>Subject and Methods</i>: The study has been conducted on the employees of selected garment factories which have introduced health insurance scheme for their employees and the garment factories which have not yet introduced health insurance for their employees. Both qualitative and quantitative approach has been applied to collect the data from employees, management officials of the readymade garment (RMGs) industries and concerned insurance companies to meet the objectives of the study. Questionnaire survey on the employees of the selected garment factories, in-depth interview, focus group discussions (FGDs) with the stakeholders has been conducted. <i>Results</i>: Health insurance of RMGs has not got momentum yet. It is at the initial stage only. At this stage, the study finds that health insurance can reduce OPP relating to benefit package, claim realization, follow up treatment etc. The employers and the employees face several problems. Moreover, monitoring and supervision need to be ensured. <i>Conclusion</i>: Most of the employees are not aware of their rights and terms and conditions of health insurance, despite of having such problems, health insurance can contribute to the reduction of OPP of the employees under HI. By reducing OPP, HI contributes to the expansion of health care coverage. By expanding the outreach, health insurance can contribute to achieving the goal of UHC, provided that the health insurance policies are well-designed.