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Unmet health care need and income‐Related horizontal equity in use of health care during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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  • Apostolos Davillas
  • Andrew M. Jones

Abstract

Using monthly data from the Understanding Society (UKHLS) COVID‐19 Survey we analyse the evolution of unmet need and assess how the UK health care system performed against the principle of horizontal equity in health care use during the first wave of COVID‐19 wave. Unmet need was most evident for hospital care, and less pronounced for primary health services (non‐emergency medical helplines, GP consultations, community pharmacist advice, over the counter medications and prescriptions). Despite this, there is no evidence that horizontal equity, with respect to income, was violated for NHS hospital outpatient and inpatient care during the first wave of the pandemic. There is evidence of pro‐rich inequities in use of GP consultations, prescriptions and medical helplines at the peak of the first wave, but these were eliminated as the pandemic progressed. There are persistent pro‐rich inequities for services that may relate to individuals' ability to pay (over the counter medications and advice from community pharmacists).

Suggested Citation

  • Apostolos Davillas & Andrew M. Jones, 2021. "Unmet health care need and income‐Related horizontal equity in use of health care during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(7), pages 1711-1716, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:30:y:2021:i:7:p:1711-1716
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4282
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bergeot, Julien & Jusot, Florence, 2024. "How did unmet care needs during the pandemic affect health outcomes of older European individuals?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    2. Paul Fisher & Omar Hussein, 2023. "Understanding Society: the income data," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 377-397, December.
    3. Louis Arnault & Florence Jusot & Thomas Renaud, 2022. "Economic vulnerability and unmet healthcare needs among the population aged 50 + years during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 811-825, December.
    4. Arabadzhyan, Anastasia & Grašič, Katja & Sivey, Peter, 2024. "COVID-19, deaths at home and end-of-life cancer care," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
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    1. Marta González-Touya & Alexandrina Stoyanova & Rosa M. Urbanos-Garrido, 2021. "COVID-19 and Unmet Healthcare Needs of Older People: Did Inequity Arise in Europe?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Julien Bergeot & Florence Jusot, 2024. "The impact of unmet health care needs on self-assessed health and functional limitations during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic," Post-Print hal-04564156, HAL.
    3. Louis Arnault & Florence Jusot & Thomas Renaud, 2022. "Economic vulnerability and unmet healthcare needs among the population aged 50 + years during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 811-825, December.
    4. Arabadzhyan, Anastasia & Grašič, Katja & Sivey, Peter, 2024. "COVID-19, deaths at home and end-of-life cancer care," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    5. Erika Obikane & Daisuke Nishi & Akihiko Ozaki & Tomohiro Shinozaki & Norito Kawakami & Takahiro Tabuchi, 2023. "Association between Poverty and Refraining from Seeking Medical Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, February.
    6. Bergeot, Julien & Jusot, Florence, 2024. "How did unmet care needs during the pandemic affect health outcomes of older European individuals?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    7. Paul Fisher & Omar Hussein, 2023. "Understanding Society: the income data," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 377-397, December.

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