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Background: Health financing in Nepal mainly relies on out-of-pocket system, which gradually is pushing people in vicious circle of poverty. In such situation, health insurance is widely recognized substitute mechanisms for alternative financing. The main purpose of this study was to study the willingness to pay for health insurance scheme among the peoples of Mangalbare Village Development Committee of Ilam District.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study using quantitative method was carried out in Mangalbare Village Development Committee of Illam District. Sample size was determined by using decision analyst Statistics and Data (STATSTM2. 0) and proportionate ward wise random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Data was collected from 136 respondents through faceto-face interview. The collected data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 16. Frequency tables and cross-tabulations were generated with a statistically significant p-value pre-determined at less than 0.05.

Results: Among 136 respondents, 97 (71.3%) were willing to pay for National Health Insurance Scheme. The median amount that respondents were willing to pay was Rs 500 (Q3-Q1= 200) per annum per household. Level of education (p= 0.002) and people with sufficient household income (p= 0.002) were found to be willing to pay with statistical significance.

Conclusion: Majority of the respondents were willing to pay for National Health Insurance Scheme. However, people with low economic status and low education level were less willing to pay. Therefore, government needs to consider …