MEDICAL EXPENDITURE DIFFERENCES: EMERGING OLDER ADULTS, BOOMERS VERSUS THE PREDECESSORS IN KOREA (2010–2020)
2024

Medical Expenditure Differences in Older Adults in Korea

Sample size: 148000 publication

Author Information

Author(s): Lim Yejin, Cho Youngtae, Ha Jung-Hwa, Ko Woorim

Primary Institution: Seoul National University

Hypothesis

How do medical expenditures differ between baby boomers and their predecessors in South Korea?

Conclusion

The study found that baby boomers have lower annual medical expenditures compared to the industrial generation, likely due to decreased use of outpatient services.

Supporting Evidence

  • The analysis revealed a declining trend in annual medical expenditure from the industrial generation to the boomers.
  • Boomers showed a significantly lower incidence of major non-communicable diseases compared to the industrial generation.
  • The findings suggest that differences in total medical expenditure could be due to decreased use of outpatient services by boomers.

Takeaway

This study shows that older adults born in the baby boomer generation spend less on healthcare than those born earlier because they visit doctors less often.

Methodology

APC analysis on annual individual medical expenditure using Korea Health Panel Survey data.

Participant Demographics

Participants included individuals from the industrial generation (born 1945-1954) and baby boomers (born 1955-1964) in South Korea.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.1786

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