Health financing policies for aging populations: a comparative study of seven countries

Global population aging presents unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems, particularly in developing nations where demographic shifts strain existing infrastructure. This study investigates health financing mechanisms for older adult populations across seven representative countries (Argentina, Cuba, Russia, Romania, Thailand, Ukraine, and Sri Lanka) to identify policy solutions for sustainable geriatric care. Employing Arksey and Malley’s scoping review framework, we systematically analyzed peer-reviewed literature from five major databases (Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest) and grey sources. Our methodology focused on three key financing models: government-subsidized programs, insurance schemes, and out-of-pocket expenditure systems. Comparative analysis revealed that all seven nations have established distinct older adult healthcare financing approaches. A universal consensus emerged regarding the necessity of: age-specific policy frameworks, guaranteed service accessibility, and financial risk protection mechanisms. Notably, each country demonstrated heightened policy attention proportional to their aging population growth rates. The final review found that in the policies developed and implemented in the seven countries: age-specific policies, access to services, and financial risk protection mechanisms were consistently emphasized as the most important features. However, there were significant variations in implementation approaches, which were broadly categorized into three models: tax-based systems, social health insurance, and hybrid models.