Relationship between the Usage of Preventive Health Care and Outpatient Utilization for the Elderly: Panel Data Evidence in Taiwan

[[abstract]]This paper uses the dynamic panel model to examine the relationship between the usage preventive health care and subsequent outpatient utilization under Nation Health Insurance (NHI) program in Taiwan. By using the panel data during the period from 1997 to 2007 in Taiwan, our empirical indicates that the utilization of preventive health care services induces more subsequent on outpatient utilization for elderly. Furthermore, we also find elderly with persistence behavior increase their copayment expenditure over time.Our interesting implications indicate that in order to remedy their chronic diseases and health for themselves, elderly with high conscious perception of using preventive health care will consume more medical resources.[[notice]]補正完畢[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]紙