Income Group Differences in the Probability of Private Doctor Visits Did Not Increase From 2006 to 2011
Abstract
There are few analyses evaluating trends in the probability of private doctor visits according to socio-economic group. We analysed the probability of visits according to taxable income among Finnish adults in 2006 and 2011.
Methods
Register data on gross taxable yearly income and on health insurance compensation paid by the Social Insurance Institution were collected for a 70% random sample of adults in 2006 and 2011. The sample population was divided into five income groups, and the data were analysed by cross-tabulations and with logistic regression models, adjusting for covariates. The results are shown for those aged 25 and over, and separately for women and men aged 25-64 and 65 and over.
Results
The higher the income group, the higher was the probability of visiting private doctors. However, the association was different among women and men and in different age groups. In 2011, 26% of working-age women in the lowest income group received health insurance compensation for private doctor visits, compared to 54% of women in the highest group. Among men, the proportions were 13% and 25%, respectively. Among those aged 65 and over, the proportions varied according to income group from 36% to 67% among women and from 23% to 52% among men. Compared to all private doctor visits, the differences between income groups were smaller for ophthalmologist visits (also for general practitioner visits among those aged 25-64) and larger for gynaecologist visits. From 2006 to 2011, the association of income with the probability of private doctor visits hardly changed.
Conclusions
It has been proposed that part of the existing and widening health differentials in Finland have been caused by the tripartite health care funding system and thus by differences in access to care in different population groups. During the five-year period of these analyses, there was practically no change in the association between income and private doctor visits even though the average fees of private doctors increased by 15% in real terms, the health insurance compensation remained stable, and the average compensation rate decreased from 28% to 23%.
Authors
Jenni Blomgren, Lauri Virta
Additional Information
- Peer-Reviewed: yes.
- Open Access: no.
- Cite as: Blomgren, J., & Virta, L. (2014). Tuloryhmien erot yksityislääkäripalvelujen käytössä eivät kasvaneet vuosina 2006–2011. Suomen lääkärilehti, 69(8), 560–565. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/pdf/2014/SLL82014-560.pdf
