Longer and healthier lives for all? Successes and failures of a universal consumer-driven healthcare system, Switzerland, 1990–2014

A. Remund (), S. Cullati, S. Sieber, C. Burton-Jeangros and M. Oris
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A. Remund: University of Geneva
S. Cullati: University of Geneva
S. Sieber: University of Geneva
C. Burton-Jeangros: University of Geneva
M. Oris: University of Geneva

International Journal of Public Health, 2019, vol. 64, issue 8, No 8, 1173-1181

Abstract: Abstract Objectives The ability to translate increases in life expectancy into additional years in good health is a crucial challenge for public health policies. We question the success of these policies in Switzerland, a forerunner of longevity, through the evolution of healthy life expectancy (HLE) across socioeconomic groups. Methods Education-specific HLE conditioning on surviving to age 30 was computed for 5-year periods from the Swiss National Cohort, a mortality follow-up of the entire resident population, and the Swiss Health Interview Survey, reporting self-rated health. We compare time trends and decompose them into health, mortality and education components. Results Between 1990 and 2015, comparable gains in LE (males: 5.02 years; females: 3.09 years) and HLE (males: 4.52 years; females: 3.09 years) were observed. People with compulsory education, however, experienced morbidity expansion, while those with middle and high education experienced morbidity compression. Conclusions Divergence of morbid years by educational levels may reflect unequal access to preventive care due to high out-of-pockets contributions in the healthcare system. This growing gap and the exhaustion of the educational dividend jeopardize future increases in HLE.

Keywords: Healthy life expectancy; Health inequalities; Healthcare system; Switzerland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-019-01290-5

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