Abstract

Objectives

Out-of-pocket (OOP) costs are a major part of the expenditures for healthcare services. In most cases, patient financial protection plans cover only direct medical costs and not other expenses by patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 800 patients referring medical centers of Kerman to analyse all aspects of OOP, especially after the Health Transformation Plan in Iran. Using the probability proportional to the size of the medical center, samples from each ward in each medical center were determined in accordance with the previous year’s patient number. Randomly selected medical records of the last 2 weeks of patients discharged were collected, information was extracted, and telephone interviews were conducted.

Results

The mean total OOP costs of a one-time hospitalization in all medical centers in Kerman was equal to 7 561 977 Iranian rials. Assuming a 5% threshold, 37% of patients in public centers were faced with catastrophic health expenditures for a one-time hospitalization. Based on the results of the regression model, reduction of length of stay, elimination of the need for the presence of next of kin, and provision of healthcare services out of hospitals can greatly reduce OOP expenditures.

Conclusion

Although direct medical costs are of special importance, and it is very necessary to protect patients against such costs, patients usually incur a variety of costs when receiving inpatient services. Inattention to direct nonmedical costs and indirect costs due to patients’ and their next of kin’s absenteeism may cause households to face catastrophic expenditures.