Association between private health insurance and medical use by linking subjective health and chronic diseases.

Abstract

This empirical study identifies the negative aspects of private health insurance (PHI) by analyzing the association between subjective health conditions, 2 weeks of outpatient care, chronic diseases, and hospitalizations for 1 year. We used frequency analysis, χ2 testing, an analysis of variance, and logistic and multiple logistic regression models to analyze the association between PHI and subjective health conditions, outpatient care, chronic disease status, and hospitalization. The PHI group had good subjective health but had more outpatient care for 2 weeks. There were few chronic diseases in the private insurance group, and there was no significant difference in hospitalizations for 1 year. Hospitalization may occur when essential medical care is required, regardless of health insurance type. This study confirmed that as the PHI lowers the burden of personal medical expenses, the PHI can lead to an increase in the medical resource expenditures on the outpatient medical service and higher public health costs. The government should work to redefine the role of private and national health insurance. Also, the effectiveness of PHI should be reevaluated so that it does not lead to indiscriminate use of medical services by minimizing the burden of private insurance.