Affecting Factors to Healthcare Utilization depending Enrollment Type

Abstract

Objectives: This research aimed to identify affecting factors to outpatient healthcare utilization depending enrollment type (the self-employed and the employee) and to find out barriers to healthcare access. Methods: The study used Andersen model (1968) to examine healthcare utilization, and determinants including predisposing, enabling, need factors and health behaviors were analyzed. The data were from the 4th wave of Korea Health Panel (KHP) and the two-part model was applied to determine factors affecting outpatient healthcare utilization itself and the volume. Results: Subjective health status and chronic disease were common important affecting factors. Other factors like education level, marital status and health behaviors had partial influence on healthcare utilization. Income level showed a significant impact only for the employee group. On the other hand, economic participation showed a significant impact only for the self-employed group. The result implies that each group has different affecting factors as per one’s enrollment type, i.e. the type of labor in Korean setting. Conclusion: Based on the findings, this study suggests that each sub-group experiences different barriers to healthcare access. Thus, it is important for health policy makers to understand and take account of those differences when developing policies to enhance accessibility to healthcare. keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Enrolment Type, Healthcare Accessibility