National Health Insurance program and life satisfaction of the elderly
Journal
Aging and Mental Health
Journal Volume
16
Journal Issue
8
Pages
983-992
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Objectives: To ensure people's fundamental right to adequate medical care, universal health insurance is given a high priority in contemporary public policy. This article investigates the effects of the introduction of Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) on life satisfaction within the elderly segment of the population. Methods: A longitudinal data set including 610 males and 430 females aged 65 or above was constructed from the Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan. A difference-in-differences-in-differences model was employed and estimated by the random-effect regression method. Results: The effects of NHI on life satisfaction are different by gender. Compared to the change in life satisfaction between the previously uninsured and insured elderly men, the introduction of NHI had a larger effect of 4.330 points on reducing the disparity in life satisfaction between previously uninsured and insured elderly women. Education, living arrangements, lifestyle, social activities, geographic location, and urbanization level are also important determinants for life satisfaction among the elderly. Conclusions: Although NHI is designed to ensure equality for accessing health care, the implementation of NHI has also improved the subjective well-being of the elderly, with a larger improvement for the elderly women. The post-NHI disparity reductions in life satisfaction between the previously uninsured and insured are significantly greater among elderly women. Our analysis of Taiwan's experience should provide a valuable lesson to countries that are in the initial stages of proposing a universal health insurance program. ? 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Subjects
elderly; gender; life satisfaction; Taiwan; universal health insurance
SDGs
Other Subjects
aged; article; demography; economics; elderly care; female; health care cost; health care delivery; health care quality; health services research; human; insurance; longitudinal study; male; public health; questionnaire; regression analysis; satisfaction; sex ratio; socioeconomics; statistics; Taiwan; utilization review; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Health Expenditures; Health Services Accessibility; Health Services for the Aged; Health Services Research; Humans; Insurance Coverage; Longitudinal Studies; Male; National Health Programs; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Health Care; Questionnaires; Regression Analysis; Residence Characteristics; Sex Distribution; Socioeconomic Factors; Taiwan
Type
journal article