How Health Insurance Helps Moroccan Families Spend Less on Medical Care

What is it about?

Health care costs can be a major burden for families, especially when they do not have insurance. In Morocco, the government introduced compulsory health insurance (CHI) to help more people access medical services without facing high expenses. But does this insurance really reduce what families pay for health care? This study looks at how CHI has affected Moroccan households, using data collected in 2017. The researchers compared two groups of households: those with compulsory health insurance and those without it. By carefully matching similar households from each group, they were able to isolate the effect of the insurance itself. The findings are clear and encouraging: families with CHI spent significantly less on medical care—about 18% less—than those without insurance. This means the program is working to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for Moroccan families. It also shows that expanding access to health insurance can help protect people from the financial stress of paying for health services. Beyond these results, the study highlights how factors such as gender, education, and where a household lives (urban or rural) influence whether people enroll in insurance. For example, women and educated individuals were more likely to be covered. This research supports public efforts to extend medical coverage to more citizens, especially as Morocco moves toward universal health coverage. It also encourages the use of reliable statistical methods to measure how public policies affect real lives.

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Photo by Online Marketing on Unsplash

Photo by Online Marketing on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research provides one of the first rigorous assessments of the financial impact of Morocco’s Compulsory Health Insurance (CHI) using advanced quasi-experimental methods. While CHI has been a major component of Morocco’s health reform strategy since 2005, little empirical evidence has quantified its effect on household medical spending. Our study fills this gap by demonstrating that CHI leads to a significant 18% reduction in out-of-pocket health expenses. What makes this work unique is its methodological approach—applying Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to national survey data—which allows for a more accurate estimation of the policy’s real-world impact. The findings are especially timely as Morocco moves toward universal health coverage and the generalization of social protection by 2025. By identifying key socioeconomic factors that influence insurance coverage—such as gender, education, and rural residence—the study also provides actionable insights for designing inclusive and effective health policies. Ultimately, this research strengthens the case for expanding CHI and highlights the importance of evidence-based policymaking in health system reforms. It serves as a practical reference for both researchers and public officials across developing countries aiming to improve financial protection in health.

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