Abstract
Introduction. Prior research has documented that unhealthy behaviors result in greater health care use and greater health care costs. However, there are few studies on out-of-pocket expenditure paid by those engaging in unhealthy behaviors. We provide cross-country evidence on the association of smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity with health care use and health care cost as well as out-of-pocket payments among the elderly in Europe. Method. Using SHARE dataset for 13 European countries, the study uses a sequential logit model to analyze use and payments for outpatient and inpatient health care service in addition to a two-part model for the analysis of use and payments for prescribed drugs. Results. Former smoking is associated with a higher rate of health care use. However, current smoking is associated with lower health care use. Former smoking is also associated with paying higher amount of out-of-pocket payments. Alcohol consumption is associated with lower health care use. Conclusion. We do not find systematic evidence that unhealthy behaviors among elderly (50+) are associated with more utilization of health care and more out-of-pocket payments. The results can be of interest for policies that aim to make people more responsible toward their health behaviors.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2615105 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | BioMed Research International |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- HEALTH-CARE UTILIZATION
- PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
- ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION
- ECONOMIC BURDEN
- TOBACCO USE
- SMOKING
- COSTS
- OBESITY
- POPULATION
- OVERWEIGHT