Economic effects of healthy ageing: functional limitation, forgone wages, and medical and long-term care costs

Health Economics Review

Research

Jersey Liang¹  Haruka Sakamoto²  Kohei Komamura³  Kazuki Kamimura⁴  Erika Kobayashi⁵  Shohei Okamoto⁶ 

[1] Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Michigan, USA;Department of Health Care Management and Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan;Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan;Research Center for Financial Gerontology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan;Faculty of Economics, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan;Research Center for Financial Gerontology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan;Hirao School of Management, Konan University, Hyogo, Japan;Research Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae- cho, Itabashi-ku, 1730015, Tokyo, Japan;Research Team for Social Participation and Healthy Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae- cho, Itabashi-ku, 1730015, Tokyo, Japan;Institute of Global Health Policy Research, National Centre for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan;Research Center for Financial Gerontology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan;

关键词: Economic benefits;    Disability;    Functional health status;    Successful ageing;    Retirement;    Medical care costs;    Long-term care costs;    D1;    I1;    J14;    J26;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13561-023-00442-x

 received in 2022-11-15, accepted in 2023-04-22,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

This study aims to estimate the potential economic benefits of healthy ageing by obtaining estimates of the economic losses generated by functional limitations among middle-aged and older people. Utilising two data sources retrieved from nationally representative samples of the Japanese people, we analysed the association between functional limitation and economic indicators, including labour market outcomes, savings, investment, consumption, and unpaid activities among individuals aged ≥ 60. Using the estimated parameters from our micro-econometric analyses and the official statistics by the Japanese government and a previous study, we calculated the financial costs that can be averted if healthy ageing is achieved as foregone wages and formal medical/long-term care costs incurred by functional limitations. Our micro-econometric analyses found that functional limitation was associated with a 3% point increase in retirement probability, with a stronger association among those aged 60–69. Moreover, functional limitation was linked with higher total health spending and less active involvement in domestic work. Foregone wages generated by functional limitation were estimated to be approximately USD 266.4 million, driven mainly by individuals in their 60s. Long-term care costs, rather than medical care costs, for older people aged ≥ 85 accounted for most of the additional costs, indicating that the estimated medical and long-term costs generated by functional limitations were approximately USD 72.7 billion. Health interventions can yield economic benefits by preventing exits from the labour market due to health issues and reducing medical and long-term care costs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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