Who Turns to General Practitioners in Germany? An Analysis on the Effect of Insurance and other Social Characteristics on the Usage of General Medical Services in Higher Age

Abstract

"The article contributes to the identification and explanation of distinct inequalities in medical service provision, deriving from differences in health insurance and other social characteristics, by an analysis of consultations of general practitioners. Based on the first cohort of SHARE from 2004, the number of general practitioner consultations is estimated with a negative binomial-logit hurdles regression. It is found that people with private health insurance have a by two thirds lesser chance of contacting their general practitioner at least once. Furthermore, their expected number of consultations in case of usage is smaller. The bipolar structure of insurance-specific usage increases after retirement. No indications of a supply-induced demand in private health insurance are found. Education has clearly negative effects, and the relatively low consultation rate of active self-employed people refers to their specific occupational situation. Additionally, the authors develop the thesis of a life-cyclic effect of retirement. The findings should encourage longitudinal research and complementing analyses of medical service provision." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku)

Cite article

Gruber, S. & Kiesel, M. (2009): Wer konsultiert den Allgemeinarzt in Deutschland? Eine Analyse zum Einfluss von Versicherung und anderen sozialen Merkmalen auf die Inanspruchnahme allgemeinmedizinischer Leistungen im Alter. In: H. Engelhardt (Hrsg.) (2009): Altern in Europa : empirische Analysen mit dem Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (Bamberger Beiträge zur Soziologie, 01), p. 94-143.