PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE PROPOSED NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA: A STUDY IN THE QASSIM REGION

This study investigates public perception of Saudi Arabia's proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) system in the Qassim region, aligning with the healthcare transformation goals of Saudi Vision 2030. As the Kingdom shifts from a fully government-funded model to a contributory framework, understanding community readiness and attitudes is critical for long-term viability and success. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design, and data were gathered from adult residents using a structured online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS with descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and correlation analysis. The findings indicate an 86% baseline awareness of the NHI system, although detailed comprehension remains mostly fair at 46.4%, with social media serving as the primary source of information. Public attitudes are overwhelmingly positive, driven by high institutional trust (91.8%) and strong expectations that NHI will enhance healthcare access (83.1%) and service quality (81.7%). However, notable hesitations persist regarding potential hospital waiting times, where 32.9% of participants remained neutral. Additionally, respondents expressed a clear preference for low-cost or fully government-funded contribution models. These insights highlight the importance of targeted public communication strategies to deepen technical understanding and address specific concerns as the reform progresses.