Is there a link between self-reported unmet needs and healthcare expenditure?
摘要
This study aims to investigate the factors associated with self-reported unmet healthcare needs among individuals aged 65 and older in France, as well as to determine whether healthcare expenditure and its determinants differ based on self-reported unmet needs. We use data from the 2012 Health and Welfare Survey, matched with health insurance records. Healthcare expenditure for ambulatory care—excluding inpatient care—is modeled using a regime-switching regression approach. Our findings highlight that social and behavioral disparities are the primary factors influencing self-reported unmet needs. The determinants of healthcare expenditure are generally similar, regardless of whether individuals report unmet needs, except for pre-frailty and the number of medical conditions. Surprisingly, we do not find a significant marginal effect of self-reported unmet needs on healthcare expenditure. In our view, this challenges the use of self-reported unmet needs as an indicator of access to care.