The relationship between remittances and health care provision in Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether remittances sent from the United States to Mexico were used to access health care in Mexico.


METHODS
Data were from a 2006 survey of 2 localities in the municipal city of Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. We used logistic regression to determine whether household remittance expenditure on health care was associated with type of health insurance coverage.


RESULTS
Individuals who lacked insurance coverage or who were covered by the Seguro Popular program were significantly more likely to reside in households that spend remittances on health care than were individuals covered by an employer-based insurance program.


CONCLUSIONS
Improving the coverage and quality of care within Mexico's health care system will help ensure that remittances serve as a complement, and not a substitute, to formal access to care.
Frank
Reanne
R
Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Palma-Coca
Oswaldo
O
Rauda-Esquivel
Juan
J
Olaiz-Fernández
Gustavo
G
Díaz-Olavarrieta
Claudia
C
Acevedo-García
Dolores
D
D000328:Adult; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics*; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014481:United States