Out-of-pocket health expenditure differentials between elderly and non-elderly households.
Regression analysis was used to compare out-of-pocket health expenditures between lower and higher income elderly and non-elderly households. Race and housing tenure were significant determinants for both age groups, but assets, education, and family size were significant only for the non-elderly. Analysis of out-of-pocket health costs indicated greater equity among elderly persons, probably due to Medicare, but income elasticities revealed that health spending is a luxury for lower income elderly households.
Rubin
R M
RM
Department of Economics, University of North Texas, Denton 76203-3408.
Koelln
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States