Changes in Healthcare Utilization, Spending, and Perceived Health during COVID–19: A Longitudinal Study from Singapore

SangNam Ahn (), Seonghoon Kim () and Kanghyock Koh ()
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SangNam Ahn: University of Memphis
Kanghyock Koh: Korea University

No 13715, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The COVID–19 pandemic has challenged the capacity of healthcare systems around the world and can potentially compromise healthcare utilization and health outcomes among non-COVID–19 patients. Using monthly panel data of nationally representative middle-aged and older Singaporeans, we examined the associations of the pandemic with healthcare utilization, out-of-pocket medical costs, and perceived health. At its peak, doctor visits decreased by 30% and out-of-pocket medical spending decreased by 23%, mostly driven by reductions in inpatient and outpatient care. Although there were little changes in self-reported health and sleep quality, COVID–19 increased depressive symptoms by 4%. We argue that it is imperative to monitor COVID–19's long-term health effects among non-COVID–19 patients since our findings indicated delayed healthcare and worsened mental health during the outbreak.

Keywords: self-reported health status; healthcare spending; healthcare utilization; pandemic; COVID-19; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2020-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-ias and nep-sea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published - published as 'Associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with older individuals' healthcare utilization and self-reported health status: a longitudinal analysis from Singapore' in: BMC Health Services Research, 2022, 22(1), 66

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