Medical expenditures and its determinants depending on receipt of public pension in South Korea

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to analyze the expenditures on medical expenses and its determinants using the Korean Retirement and Income Data conducted by the National Pension Research Institute. METHODS: This study utilized data from the Korean Retirement and Income Study from 2005 to 2013, which were compiled by the National Pension Research Institute. The t test and ANOVA were used to analyze the general characteristics and medical expenditures of subjects depending on the receipt of public pension, and logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of medical expenditures. RESULTS: The results of this study indicated that households not receiving public pension are likely to spend more on medical expenses than those receiving public pension. The analysis results showed that gross household expenditures quintiles affected medical expenditures up to 4 times. Moreover, poor physical health was a stronger influence factor of medical expenditures than good physical health. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to prepare a pension policy that can guarantee a reasonable amount of a retirement pension to the retiree, provide health policy and financial support programs to medical services.