基于医疗保险视角的老年人医疗费用研究

A Study on Effect of Medical Insurance Status on the Aged' Medical Expenses

在"全国老年人口健康状况调查"2008年数据集基础上,应用Tobit多元嵌套模型考察不同类型医疗保险身份对老年人医疗费用的作用。结果表明,老年人的经济状况以及健康状况等因素(而不是医疗保险身份因素)对其医疗费用存在显著作用,当前医疗保险尚且不能满足我国老年人群医疗健康需求,老年人医疗费用主要还是以子女支付为主,其医疗保险身份呈现出典型"不足论"的特征。老年人医疗健康需求处于被压抑状态,医疗保险的覆盖率和保险额度都有待进一步提高,以增强老年人的医疗费用支付能力。

Based on the 2008 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey （CLHLS）, this paper uses nested multivariate tobit regression model to examine effect of medical insurance status on older adults＇ medical expenses. Results show that the aged＇ health condition and economic status are significantly associated with their medical expenses; in contrast, medical insurance status has not have significant effect on their medical expenses. The current medical insurance can＇t meet the aged＇ health needs yet and their medical expenses are mainly paid by their children. The aged＇ medical status brings out typical ＂shortage＂ character. So we should try our best to expand medical insurances＇ coverage and values to improve the aged＇ ability to pay medical expenses and meet their health needs.