Horizontal Inequity in Health Care Utilization among the Middle-Aged and Elderly in China

Chaofan Li, Lei Dou, Haipeng Wang, Shanshan Jing and Aitian Yin
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Chaofan Li: School of Health Care Management, Key Laboratory of Health Economics and Policy Research, NHFPC, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
Lei Dou: School of Health Care Management, Key Laboratory of Health Economics and Policy Research, NHFPC, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
Haipeng Wang: School of Health Care Management, Key Laboratory of Health Economics and Policy Research, NHFPC, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
Shanshan Jing: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
Aitian Yin: School of Health Care Management, Key Laboratory of Health Economics and Policy Research, NHFPC, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Equitable utilization of health care is a primary goal of the Chinese health system. This study aimed to examine horizontal inequity in health care utilization and identify the factors resulting in inequity among the middle-aged and elderly in China. Methods: The data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We employed the concentration index (CI) and horizontal inequity (HI) to measure inequity in health care utilization. Non-linear regression models were used to decompose the CI into the contribution of each factor. Results: The CIs for the probability of and total number of outpatient visits were 0.0642 and 0.0780, respectively, and those for inpatient visits were 0.1418 and 0.1471, respectively. The HIs were also significantly positive. Living standard was the most important contributor. The contribution of health insurance varied between plans. Conclusions: This study supported the presence of pro-rich inequity in health care utilization for both probability and frequency among the middle-aged and elderly in China. Narrowing the living standard gap and improving the health insurance benefit package for the elderly should help to resolve these inequities.

Keywords: horizontal inequity; health care utilization; middle-aged and elderly; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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