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How does health insurance copayment affect the use of medical services and health outcomes

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19K13700
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Basic Section 07040:Economic policy-related
Research InstitutionInternational University of Japan

Principal Investigator

Wong Chun Yee  国際大学, 国際関係学研究科, 准教授 (20814164)

Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥630,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥260,000 (Direct Cost: ¥200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥60,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥130,000 (Direct Cost: ¥100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥30,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
KeywordsCopayment / Health Insurance / Health Behaviours / Older Adults / Japan / health insurance / copayment / healthcare / health behaviour / health outcome / health behavior / health outcomes / Medical Services / Health Outcomes
Outline of Research at the Start

This study will first examine the impacts of different health insurance plans on demand for various types of medical goods and services, then evaluate the impact
of the change in copayment together with the effects of individual’s socio-demographic characteristics on health outcomes. The study will shed some light on the effectiveness and equity of the government policy on providing various types of health insurance among people with different medical needs.

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The study explores how health insurance copayments influence health behaviours and healthcare use among older adults in Japan, using data from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in 2013 and 2016. The findings show that increasing copayments, indicative of reduced insurance coverage, leads to greater adoption of positive health behaviors. Conversely, there is a mixed impact on risky behaviors - while cigarette consumption decreases, alcohol intake rises, especially among educated individuals and males, possibly due to cultural beliefs about alcohol's health benefits in social contexts. Higher education levels amplify changes in health behaviors, indicating the importance of socioeconomic influences. The findings offer valuable evidence-based insights for policymakers aimed at promoting healthy aging and mitigating adverse health outcomes associated with changes in health policy, both in Japan and potentially in other similar contexts globally.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This study advances understanding of how health insurance affects health behaviours. The study provides insights into behavioral responses to financial incentives in healthcare. Moreover, the findings support policymakers aiming to design evidence-based health policies for aging population.

Report

(6 results)
  • 2023 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All 2024 2023 Other

All Journal Article (1 results) (of which Open Access: 1 results) Presentation (2 results) (of which Invited: 2 results) Remarks (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Impacts of Copayment Change on Health Behaviours for Older People: Evidence from a Japanese Health Policy Reform2024

    • Author(s)
      Chun Yee Wong; Shugo Shinohara
    • Journal Title

      IUJ Research Institute Working Paper

      Volume: EMS-2024-03 Pages: 1-23

    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Open Access
  • [Presentation] The Impact of Health Insurance on Health Behaviours among Older People: Evidence from Japan2023

    • Author(s)
      WONG CHUN YEE
    • Organizer
      Pensions, Retirement, and Ageing seminar
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] The Impact of Health Insurance on Health Behaviours among Older People: Evidence from Japan2023

    • Author(s)
      WONG CHUN YEE
    • Organizer
      Pensions, Retirement and Ageing seminar
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Invited
  • [Remarks] Impacts of Copayment Change on Health Behaviours

    • URL

      https://ideas.repec.org/p/iuj/wpaper/ems_2024_03.html

    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2019-04-18   Modified: 2025-01-30  

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