A Comparative Study of Mongolia’s Health Insurance System in Relation to Selected Countries Worldwide

Abstract

Background: Health insurance systems are a core component of social protection, aimed at safeguarding populations from financial risks, ensuring equitable access to health care services, and ultimately achieving universal health coverage. In recent years, Mongolia’s health insurance system has faced significant policy-level challenges related to efÏciency, accessibility, and financial sustainability. Therefore, there is a growing need to conduct comparative analyses of internationally successful health insurance models. Aim: To comparatively examine Mongolia’s health insurance system in relation to the health insurance systems of selected countries. Materials and Methods: A comparative document review methodology was employed to analyze the health insurance and health financing systems of Canada, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Kyrgyzstan. The analysis was based on policy documents, legal and regulatory frameworks, reports from international organizations, and relevant statistical data. Results: In countries such as Canada, Germany, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, health expenditure as a share of GDP exceeds the global average, while out-of-pocket payments by households remain relatively low. In contrast, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan exhibit high levels of out-of-pocket expenditure, weaker financial protection, and comparatively lower performance indicators of the health system. Conclusion: The findings suggest that increasing health expenditure as a share of GDP toward the global average, improving the management of health insurance funds, and reducing out-of-pocket payments by households are important considerations for enhancing the performance of Mongolia’s health system.