Is healthcare consumption in the country of origin among Moroccan and Turkish migrants of older age (55+) associated with less use of care in the Netherlands?

Abstract

Asubstantial part of all Dutch people of Turkish and Moroccan origin use healthcare in the country of origin when travelling to their country of origin for ashorter or longer period of time (21% and 10%, respectively). If using care in the country of origin leads to avoidance of care in the Netherlands, this could threaten the continuity of care. We linked data of the HELIUS study to health insurance data. We examined the relationship between healthcare utilisation in the country of origin and the Netherlands, in the period of 2010-2015, adjusting for health status as an indicator of need. Contrary to our expectations, Dutch people of Turkish or Moroccan origin using healthcare consumption in the country of origin utilise more care in the Netherlands than individuals that do not utilize healthcare in the country of origin. Thus, our results do not provide any indication for avoidance of healthcare in the Netherlands among this group of older migrants in the Netherlands.