Utilization of publicly insured health services in Saskatchewan before, during and after copayment.
This study examines the effects both of introducing and of removing copayment charges under a universal public medical care and hospital insurance program. For a period between 1968 and 1971, the Province of Saskatchewan imposed user charges of approximately 33 per cent and 6 per cent on medical and hospital services, respectively. The effects of these charges are analyzed using pooled cross-section samples of families and using both multivariate methods and experimental/control groups designs. Diagnostic- and procedure-specific analysis is also performed on the hospital data using the individual as the unit of observation. The findings of the study indicate a copayment effect of 5.6 per cent for physicians' services. No evidence could be adduced that would support the conclusion of a copayment effect for hospital services.
D003669:Deductibles and Coinsurance / Q000639:trends*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007350:Insurance, Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D007357:Insurance, Physician Services / Q000191:economics; D007902:Length of Stay; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012525:Saskatchewan; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000191:economics