Læknablaðið - 15.10.2009, Síða 32

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Out-of-pocket health care expenditures among population groups in lceland
Objective: Out-of-pocket health expenditures affect
access to health care. The study investigated trends
in these expenditures, and whether certain population
groups spent more than others.
Material and methods: The data come from two national
health surveys among lcelandic adults from 1998 and
2006. The response rate was 69% in the former survey
(N=1924), and 60% in the latter (N= 1532). Average
household health expenditures and household expenditure
burden (expenditures as % of total household income)
were compared over time and between groups.
Results: Household health expenditures increased by
29% in real terms between 1998 and 2006. The biggest
items in 2006 were drugs and dental care. Women,
younger and older individuals, the single and divorced,
smaller households, the unemployed and non-employed,
individuals with low education and income, the chronically
III, and the disabled, had the highest household
expenditure burden. Comparison between 1998 and
2006 indicated increased expenditure burden among
young people, students, the unemployed, and the least
educated, but decreased burden among the elderly, the
widowed, and parents of young children.
Conclusions: Household health expenditures differ
substantially between groups, suggesting reconsideration
of current health insurance policies, especially with regard
to disabled, non-employed, low-income, and young
individuals.
Vilhjalmsson R.
Out-of-pocket health care expenditures among population groups in lceland. Icel Med J 2009; 95:661-8.
Key words: out-of-pocket health care costs, group differences, health care utilization, access to health care.
Correspondence: Rúnar Vilhjálmsson, runarv@hi.is
Barst: 23. febrúar 2009, - samþykkt til birtingar: 24. júní 2009
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ferðir á erlendri grund. Saman mynda þessi dótturfélög lcelandair Group öfluga heild.
Iceland Travel
Skútuvogi13 a
105 Reykjavík
58S 4300
conferences@icelandtravel.is
icelandtravel.is
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