[Unmet Medical Need in Germany: Analyses of EU-SILC-Survey from 2005 to 2014].

Abstract

The unmet medical need is an important indicator for the quality assessment of a health system on an international level. The EU-SILC-Survey was launched in 2005 and is performed yearly in Germany. In EU-SILC-2014, 22 695 people (over 17 years) in 12 744 households have been interviewed. In accordance to the EU-SILC-waves 2005 and 2014, the unmet medical or dental need has been decreased strongly in Germany. 8.5 % of the population (aged 16 and over) reported either an unmet need for medical (6.4 %) or dental care (3.8 %). The main causes for not making use of unmet dental need are financial and of unmet medical need are personal reasons. In the multivariate logistical regression models, a bad health state has the biggest influence on the likelihood of occurrence of an unmet medical or dental need. Higher disposable (net) income and educational levels are associated with lower probability for non-utilization. Unemployment and migration are accompanied by a higher unmet medical and dental need. Middle-aged people are especially affected. The analyses reveal improvements in unmet needs for medical and dental care over time in Germany but also large social disparities. There are action approaches in financial regulation in the health system and strengthening individual health literacy.