Technical Note
Plans for the implementation of health benefits by the Social Security Corporation of Jordan
Observations and considerations in light of ILO’s social security standards
Over the past two decades, Jordan has made progress in access and utilization of health services, with a positive influence on health outcomes. Social health protection coverage gaps however remain and the extension of social health protection continues to be at the centre of the national debate. Several attempts at developing a comprehensive master plan to reform and integrate the health insurance system in Jordan have been undertaken in the recent past, with limited progress effectively made.
While there is a legal provision under the Social Security Law (2014) for private sector workers and their families to be covered by a public scheme this provision was never enforced, therefore at present this category of the population remains largely unprotected. Like many middle-income countries, Jordan has also seen important growth in the private health sector, while most social health protection mechanisms have focussed for a long time on public facilities, with reform in developing effective purchasing and providing mechanisms advancing at a slow pace.
The Jordanian Government, through the SSC, is planning to start the rollout of health benefits for private sector workers, pensioners and their families that are already under the scope of SSC coverage with a focus on inpatient care and cancer treatment. In view of this context, this note articulates key considerations in light of international standards on social health protection.
Social security institutions play an important role in supporting the extension of coverage in many countries. However, this has to happen in the context of a comprehensive approach that allows alignment and reduction in fragmentation, improve solidarity and equity in accessing healthcare, and ensures balanced and sustainable financing. The note highlights design features that can be considered to ensure closer alignment of the proposal with international social security standards.
While there is a legal provision under the Social Security Law (2014) for private sector workers and their families to be covered by a public scheme this provision was never enforced, therefore at present this category of the population remains largely unprotected. Like many middle-income countries, Jordan has also seen important growth in the private health sector, while most social health protection mechanisms have focussed for a long time on public facilities, with reform in developing effective purchasing and providing mechanisms advancing at a slow pace.
The Jordanian Government, through the SSC, is planning to start the rollout of health benefits for private sector workers, pensioners and their families that are already under the scope of SSC coverage with a focus on inpatient care and cancer treatment. In view of this context, this note articulates key considerations in light of international standards on social health protection.
Social security institutions play an important role in supporting the extension of coverage in many countries. However, this has to happen in the context of a comprehensive approach that allows alignment and reduction in fragmentation, improve solidarity and equity in accessing healthcare, and ensures balanced and sustainable financing. The note highlights design features that can be considered to ensure closer alignment of the proposal with international social security standards.