Prepaid health care in general practice: acceptability and effect on utilisation

A prepaid child health scheme was offered to the patients of a rural practice in January 1988. The acceptability of the scheme was monitored in terms of entry and exit rates. The effectiveness of the scheme was measured in terms of its effect on the rates of consultation for acute illness and prevention, and the cost of the scheme to the practice and to patients was assessed. The scheme reduced the annual cost of general practice services for those children enrolled in the scheme by $73.68. There was no evidence that the scheme improved access for the low users of child health care. The scheme was a financial loss for the practice.