Financial Burden Associated with Ill-Health: Evidence from the Elderly Population in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the financial burden associated with ill-health among the elderly in Nigeria. Data were drawn from the 2010 National Living standard survey covering the six geopolitical zones with rural-urban dimension. The World Health Organization capacity to pay single threshold approach was adopted. The results showed that there is a huge financial burden associated with out-of-pocket health expenditure among the elderly in Nigeria and this financial burden increases with increase in income. This was attributed to the wide disparities in healthcare utilization between the rich and the poor, in favour of the rich. Also, more than 50% of elderly people in Nigeria have unmet healthcare needs due to poverty hence, there is need to protect them from the financial burden associated with ill-health. The study also showed that the National Health Insurance Scheme is not popular and does not make any provision for the elderly hence, there is need to establish centres for elderly care throughout the country. This can have substantial positive effect on healthcare utilization among elderly people in the country.