Patterns of Older Americans’ Health Care Utilization Over Time

Abstract

Objective Our aim was to analyze correlates of continuous and transitional health care utilization by older Americans over a recent 4-year period. Methods We analyzed data for civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. individuals over age 50 from the 2006 and 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We estimated multinomial logistic models of persistent and intermittent use of physician, inpatient hospital, home health and outpatient surgery over the 2004–2008 survey periods. Results Health-based factors were more strongly associated with repeated and changing use of medical care over this period than were financial factors for this older American population. Conclusions Findings suggested that the health and changes in the health of older individuals were more strongly correlated with persistence of and changes in care-seeking behavior over time than were financial status and changes in financial status. The more pronounced sensitivity to health status and changes in health should be important considerations as insurance and retirement policy reforms are considered.

Which factors affect health care use among older Germans? Results of the German ageing survey

“…This association has also been reported in previous cross-sectional studies [24–27]. Findings from longitudinal data sets substantiate this finding [13–15]. This means that longitudinal studies in addition to our study provide first insights into the causal relationship between objective health and health care use.…”

“…There are only a few longitudinal studies investigating the predictors of health care use [13–15]. However, these longitudinal studies mainly used a static set of baseline predictors to predict subsequent health care use.…”

Retirement Reforms: Occupational Strain and Health

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