Changes in Healthcare Utilization, Spending, and Perceived Health during COVID–19: A Longitudinal Study from Singapore
The COVID–19 pandemic has challenged the capacity of healthcare systems around the world and can potentially compromise healthcare utilization and health outcomes among non-COVID–19 patients. Using monthly panel data of nationally representative middle-aged and older Singaporeans, we examined the associations of the pandemic with healthcare utilization, out-of-pocket medical costs, and perceived health. At its peak, doctor visits decreased by 30% and out-of-pocket medical spending decreased by 23%, mostly driven by reductions in inpatient and outpatient care. Although there were little changes in self-reported health and sleep quality, COVID–19 increased depressive symptoms by 4%. We argue that it is imperative to monitor COVID–19's long-term health effects among non-COVID–19 patients since our findings indicated delayed healthcare and worsened mental health during the outbreak.
Year of publication: |
2020
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Authors: | Ahn, SangNam ; Kim, Seonghoon ; Koh, Kanghyock |
Publisher: |
Bonn : Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) |
Subject: | COVID–19 | pandemic | healthcare utilization | healthcare spending | self-reported health status | mental health |
Saved in:
freely available
Series: | IZA Discussion Papers ; 13715 |
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Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Type of publication (narrower categories): | Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Other identifiers: | 1735351458 [GVK] hdl:10419/227242 [Handle] RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13715 [RePEc] |
Classification: | I12 - Health Production: Nutrition, Mortality, Morbidity, Substance Abuse and Addiction, Disability, and Economic Behavior ; I18 - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health |
Source: |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10012322514