Abstract
Household age-sex composition in India is changing fast due to persistently declining fertility and improvement in life expectancy, rural–urban migration and change in family orientation. Under such circumstances healthcare of older adults is expected to be affected as they mostly depend on other household members. Keeping this in view the present study attempts to answer the question ‘How does the change in household age-sex composition affect out of pocket healthcare expenditure of older adults in India?’. Household age-sex composition and healthcare expenditure for rounds of National Sample Survey Organaization (NSSO) conducted in 1993, 1999–00 and 2007–08 are used for the study. Considerable shift in the share of older adults over period of time is noticed and the change in household age-sex composition is found to have significant effect on healthcare expenditure of older adults. More specifically the share of consumption by older adults above 60 years has increased substantially over time with the increase in their composition. The study provides empirical evidence to support the need for public policies to respond to the growing challenges of the changing age structure of India’s population.
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Maharana, B., Ladusingh, L. How Does the Change in Household Age-Sex Composition Affect Out of Pocket Healthcare Expenditure of Older Adults in India?. Ageing Int 47, 866–887 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-021-09457-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-021-09457-3