The selection of an appropriate count data model for modelling health insurance and health care demand: case of Indonesia

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2010 Jan;7(1):9-27. doi: 10.3390/ijerph7010009. Epub 2009 Dec 29.

Abstract

We apply several estimators to Indonesian household data to estimate the relationship between health insurance and the number of outpatient visits to public and private providers. Once endogeneity of insurance is taken into account, there is a 63 percent increase in the average number of public visits by the beneficiaries of mandatory insurance for civil servants. Individuals' decisions to make first contact with private providers is affected by private insurance membership. However, insurance status does not make any difference for the number of future outpatient visits.

Keywords: count data models; demand for health care; endogeneity; health insurance.

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Services Needs and Demand / statistics & numerical data*
  • Indonesia
  • Insurance, Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Models, Econometric*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Private Practice / statistics & numerical data