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  • Title: Trends in out-of-pocket health care expenditures in Canada, by household income, 1997 to 2009.
    Author: Sanmartin C, Hennessy D, Lu Y, Law MR.
    Journal: Health Rep; 2014 Apr; 25(4):13-7. PubMed ID: 24744043.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Canadian households are spending an increasing share of their household income on health care not covered by public plans. This study investigates trends in out-of-pocket expenditures for health care services and products by household income quintile from 1997 to 2009. DATA AND METHODS: Biennial estimates from the Survey of Household Spending between 1997 and 2009 were used to examine changes in out-of-pocket health care expenditures, by household income quintile. The statistical significance of these changes was assessed using linear and logistic regression. RESULTS: In 2009, the percentage of after-tax household income spent on health care among low-income households (5.7%) was nearly twice that of high-income households (2.6%). Approximately 40% of households in the two lowest income quintiles spent more than 5% of their total after-tax income on health care services and products, compared with 14% of households in the highest income quintile. The increase in spending between 1997 and 2009 was greatest for households in the lowest income quintile (63%). INTERPRETATION: Out-of-pocket health care expenditures have increased for households in all income quintiles, but the relative increase was greatest among households in lower income quintiles.
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