Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
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Factors Determining Children's Private Health Insurance Enrolment and Healthcare Utilization Patterns: Evidence From the 2008 to 2011 Health Panel Data

  • Shin, Jawoon (Preventive Medicine Program, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Tae-Jin (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Cho, Sung-il (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Choe, Seung Ah (Preventive Medicine Program, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2015.10.05
  • Accepted : 2015.11.16
  • Published : 2015.11.30
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Abstract

Objectives: Parental socioeconomic status (SES) exerts a substantial influence on children's health. The purpose of this study was to examine factors determining children's private health insurance (PHI) enrolment and children's healthcare utilization according to PHI coverage. Methods: Korea Health Panel data from 2011 (n=3085) was used to explore the factors determining PHI enrolment in children younger than 15 years of age. A logit model contained health status and SES variables for both children and parents. A fixed effects model identified factors influencing healthcare utilization in children aged 10 years or younger, using 2008 to 2011 panel data (n=9084). Results: The factors determining children's PHI enrolment included children's age and sex and parents' educational status, employment status, and household income quintile. PHI exerted a significant effect on outpatient cost, inpatient cost, and number of admissions. Number of outpatient visits and total length of stay were not affected by PHI status. The interaction between PHI and age group increased outpatient cost significantly. Conclusions: Children's PHI enrolment was influenced by parents' SES, while healthcare utilization was affected by health and disability status. Therefore, the results of this study suggest disparities in healthcare utilization according to PHI enrollment.

Keywords

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  1. Enrollment in Private Medical Insurance and Utilization of Medical Services Among Children and Adolescents: Data From the 2009-2012 Korea Health Panel Surveys vol.49, pp.2, 2015, https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.16.003