Forgone health care due to cost among older adults in European countries and in Israel

Howard Litwin*, Eliyahu V. Sapir

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study sought to identify the principal factors that predict forgone health care due to cost among European and Israeli older adults. The analysis applied the Andersen - Newman model of health service utilization to data from the first wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (n = 28,849). Relinquished health care was regressed on the predisposing characteristics, need factors and economic access attributes of the respondents, in general, and in each of 12 countries, in particular. The results showed that forgone health care due to cost occurs among a substantial minority of older adults. Moreover, relinquished care is associated with younger old age, greater health needs and perceived economic inadequacy. Although statistically significant in certain cases, country of residence does not constitute a robust predictor of health care relinquishment. Social policy should address the antecedents of forgone health care in order to more effectively meet the health needs of the older population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)167-176
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Ageing
Volume6
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

Keywords

  • Economic access
  • Health services
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Perceived income adequacy
  • SHARE
  • Underutilization

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