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Access to Healthcare and Medical Expenditure for the Middle-Aged and Elderly: Observations from China

Author

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  • Yan Jiang
  • Yu Wang
  • Le Zhang
  • Yang Li
  • Xiaojun Wang
  • Shuangge Ma

Abstract

Background: In the evaluation of a healthcare system, it is of interest to identify factors associated with the usage of different healthcare facilities and with different levels of medical expenditure. Methods: A survey was conducted in January and February of 2012 in China. It focused on the middle-aged and elderly with age of 45 and above. A total of 2,093 people from 1,152 households were surveyed. Results: For inpatient treatment, the probability of using grade III hospitals, which had the highest level of care, was positively associated with age, being married, living in urban areas, and having higher income. For outpatient treatment, the probability of using grade III hospitals was positively associated with age, being married, working in enterprises, living in urban areas, living in central and western regions, and having higher income, and negatively associated with being farmers. The total and out-of-pocket (OOP) medical expenses were analyzed separately. It was found that the expense level was associated with age, education, occupation, living in urban areas, type of hospital used, insurance being used, and per capita income. Conclusion: The access to healthcare and level of medical expenditure were found as associated with demographic characteristics. In addition, differences between areas and regions were observed. Such results may be useful for identifying vulnerable population and for tuning future healthcare development policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Jiang & Yu Wang & Le Zhang & Yang Li & Xiaojun Wang & Shuangge Ma, 2013. "Access to Healthcare and Medical Expenditure for the Middle-Aged and Elderly: Observations from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0064589
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Tao Zhang & Jing Liu & Chaojie Liu, 2019. "Changes in Perceived Accessibility to Healthcare from the Elderly between 2005 and 2014 in China: An Oaxaca–Blinder Decomposition Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Zhaorong Gao & Lingzhong Xu & Wenzhe Qin & Jiao Zhang & Jinling Zhou & Fangfang Hu & Zhuang Hong, 2020. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Self-Treatment among the Elderly—A Comparative Study between Empty and Non-Empty Nesters in Shandong, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-11, October.
    5. Yang Li & Yinjun Zhao & Danhui Yi & Xiaojun Wang & Yan Jiang & Yu Wang & Xinchun Liu & Shuangge Ma, 2017. "Differences exist across insurance schemes in China post-consolidation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, November.
    6. Rui Miao & Xiaohao Xiang & Qi Wu & Zhibin Jiang, 2020. "Evaluation method of medical service system based on DEMATEL and the information entropy: A case study of hypertension diagnosis and treatment in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, December.

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