The determinants of out-of-pocket payments: evidence from selected hospitals in Ankara, Turkey


Yıldırım Öcal J., Yilmaz E., KORUCU GÜMÜŞOĞLU N.

APPLIED ECONOMICS LETTERS, vol.18, no.10-12, pp.1159-1162, 2011 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 10-12
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/13504851.2010.528351
  • Journal Name: APPLIED ECONOMICS LETTERS
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1159-1162
  • Istanbul Kültür University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the determinants of the out-of-pocket expenditures on health in selected hospitals of the capital city Ankara, Turkey. Maximum likelihood logistic analysis is used to estimate the relationship between the likelihood of incurring out-of-pocket payments and a set of individual- and facility-level covariates, such as income, education level and wealth of the patient. Empirical findings indicate that as the level of education, age and income increase the likelihood of making out-of-payment expenditures on health increases. Additionally, the attitudes of patients towards the health-care system and their possible impacts on the decision of out-of-pocket payments have also been considered. The distrust in the public health-care system is reflected in patients' choices regarding the first applied medical centre. It appears that patients with high levels of income prefer private health-care rather than the public health-care services.