TY - JOUR
T1 - Forgone health care due to cost among older adults in European countries and in Israel
AU - Litwin, Howard
AU - Sapir, Eliyahu V.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Economic access
KW - Health services
KW - Out-of-pocket expenses
KW - Perceived income adequacy
KW - SHARE
KW - Underutilization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69249218854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10433-009-0126-8
DO - 10.1007/s10433-009-0126-8
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
AN - SCOPUS:69249218854
SN - 1613-9372
VL - 6
SP - 167
EP - 176
JO - European Journal of Ageing
JF - European Journal of Ageing
IS - 3
ER -