The Association of Residence Permits on Utilization of Health Care Services by Migrant Workers in China

Haochuan Xu, Han Yang, Hui Wang and Xuefeng Li
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Haochuan Xu: West Center for Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China
Han Yang: West Center for Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China
Hui Wang: School of Accounting, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China
Xuefeng Li: West Center for Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-16

Abstract: Due to the limitations in the verifiability of individual identity, migrant workers have encountered some obstacles in access to public health care services. Residence permits issued by the Chinese government are a solution to address the health care access inequality faced by migrant workers. In principle, migrant workers with residence permits have similar rights as urban locals. However, the validity of residence permits is still controversial. This study aimed to examine the impact of residence permits on public health care services. Data were taken from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS). Our results showed that the utilization of health care services of migrant workers with residence permits was significantly better than others. However, although statistically significant, the substantive significance is modest. In addition, megacities had significant negative moderating effects between residence permits and health care services utilization. Our research results emphasized that reforms of the household registration system, taking the residence permit system as a breakthrough, cannot wholly address the health care access inequality in China. For developing countries with uneven regional development, the health care access inequality faced by migrant workers is a structural issue.

Keywords: residence permit; health care services; migrant worker (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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