Factors Affecting Perceived Financial Burden of Medical Expenditures

Young Soon Choi; Kwang Ok Lee; Eun Shil Yim

doi:10.11111/jkana.2011.17.2.147

Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs Adm > v.17(2) > 1051582

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Choi, Lee, and Yim: Factors Affecting Perceived Financial Burden of Medical Expenditures

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration 2011; 17(2): 147-157.

Published online: 30 June 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2011.17.2.147

Factors Affecting Perceived Financial Burden of Medical Expenditures

Young Soon Choi¹, Kwang Ok Lee², Eun Shil Yim³

¹Senior Researcher, Health Insurance Research Center, National Health Insurance Corporation, Korea.

²Full-time Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Sangmyung University, Korea.

³Full-time Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Daegu Health College, Korea.

Correspondence: Yim, Eun Shil. Department of Nursing, Daegu Health College, San 7, Taejeon1-Dong, Buk-Gu, Daegu 702-722, Korea. Tel: 82-53-320-1467, yim7604@hanmail.net

Received 19 October 2010 Revised 29 April 2011 Accepted 7 June 2011

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to investigate factors affecting perceived financial burden of medical expenditures.

Method

The participants were 2,024 inpatients who were enrolled in a survey on the benefit coverage rate of the National Health Insurance in 2006. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA-test, Mann-Whitney-test, Kruskal-Wallis-test, Chi-square test and logistic regression.

Results

The crucial factors for perceived financial burden were age, job, equivalence scale, ratio of annual family income vs medical expenditure, and private health insurance. Perceived financial burden was higher for people who were older, who were unemployed, whose medical expenditures were high compared to annual family income, whose index of family equalization was low and for those who had no private health insurance.

Conclusion

The results of the study indicate a demand for system reform that will enable management of no-pay hospital bills in the National Health Insurance to decrease the medical expense of people in the low-income bracket.

Keywords: Burden, Medical Expenditures

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Medical expenditures by demographic and social characteristics n=2,024

^∥: ANOVA Scheffe test

Table 2

Perceived financial burden for medical expenditures n=2,024

Table 3

Differences in perceived financial burden n=2,024

Table 4

Factors affecting on perceived financial burden by logistic regression n=2,024

^*p< 0.05, ^**p<0.001

^†Multiple logistic regression : independent variable-age, education, job, equivalence scale, ratio annual family income vs medical expenditure, private health insurance

Table 5

Addition: Ratio Annual Family Income vs Medical Expenditures by Equivalence Scale n=2,024

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