Healthcare utilization and financing pattern among the rural elderly in Bargarh district of Odisha

This study uses the primary data based on the sample survey of 310 households and examines the health care expenditure among elderly population and its association with different socio-economic covariates in Bargarh district of Odisha. The study shows that spending on health care differs on the basis of various socio-economic characteristics like age, gender, income, social group, living arrangement, morbidity, economic dependence, episode of illness, marital status etc. Results indicate that in terms of the morbidity, elderly population was suffering more from the problem of arthritis. Elderly reported their health as poor and disease prevalence among elderly was high. First preference for the treatment among the elderly was government hospitals in the first episode of illness. Major source of financing for elderly was their son in both the episodes of illness. Spending on the health care increases with economic status, independent living, higher literacy rate, separation from their spouse, and with risk behaviour.