J Prev Med Public Health.  2015 Nov;48(6):319-329. 10.3961/jpmph.15.057.

Factors Determining Children's Private Health Insurance Enrolment and Healthcare Utilization Patterns: Evidence From the 2008 to 2011 Health Panel Data

• Shin J
• Lee TJ
• Cho SI
• Choe SA

• KMID: 2381485
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.15.057

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.

Keyword

Child; Parents; Health status; Insurance; Social class

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Ambulatory Care
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Databases, Factual
Female
Health Status
Humans
Infant
*Insurance, Health
Male
Odds Ratio
*Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Republic of Korea
Social Class