Arkus
Vol. 11 No. 2 (2025): Arkus

Navigating the Iron Triangle: A Systematic Mixed-Methods Review of Equity and Quality Trade-offs in Indonesia’s National Health Insurance Reform

Sutrisni (Unknown)
Anggara Setya Saputra (Unknown)
Indi Nurul Anisah (Unknown)
Arinda Retno Setiani (Unknown)
Fika meiliana Saputri (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Jan 2026

Abstract

As Indonesia’s Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) transitions from an expansionary phase to maturity, it faces the classic iron triangle of health policy: the tension between expanding access, containing costs, and maintaining quality. While coverage rates have soared, critical questions remain regarding the equitable distribution of these benefits in a post-pandemic landscape. This study employs an Integrative Systematic Review design, synthesizing high-impact quantitative and qualitative evidence published between 2021 and 2024. Data were extracted from six primary studies utilizing large-scale national datasets (SUSENAS, IFLS) and policy reviews. The analysis moves beyond simple pooling to perform a narrative synthesis of adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR) for utilization and benefit incidence, assessing the structural determinants of effective coverage. The synthesis reveals a distinct inverse equity trade-off. While JKN ownership significantly increases the probability of inpatient utilization (aOR: 2.35), the benefits are unevenly distributed. A middle-class capture phenomenon is evident, where upper-middle-income groups experience a 41% reduction in out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure compared to 38% for the poorest quintile. Furthermore, a quality gap persists, with non-poor populations seeing a greater reduction in unmet needs (10.4%) than the poor (7.7%), largely driven by supply-side rigidities in remote areas and administrative literacy barriers. In conclusion, JKN has successfully dismantled financial entry barriers but has not yet resolved structural inequities. The system currently functions as a regressive subsidy where the urban middle class extracts disproportionate value. Future policy must pivot from coverage expansion to supply-side equity, implementing geographic capitation differentials and targeted non-medical benefits for vulnerable populations to close the gap between legal entitlement and effective access.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

arkus

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Medicine & Pharmacology Social Sciences

Description

Arkus publishes original articles, article reviews, and case reports and is designed as a place of dissemination of information and scientific knowledge to develop human wealth. Arkus publishes all manuscripts in multidisciplinary fields (social sciences, sciences, technology, engineering, health, ...