The distribution of household expenditures on health care.

Abstract

AIMS. To find out whether New Zealand household expenditures on health care services vary according to the income of the household. To compare expenditures on health care in 1987 with 1991. METHODS. Information about household income and expenditure on health services was obtained from the Department of Statistics annual household expenditure and income surveys for the 1987 and 1991 financial years. Four categories of health expenditure were examined: general practitioner fees, dental fees, optician and optometrist fees, and spending on all health services combined. RESULTS. Spending on health care is unequally distributed across income groups. In particular, the highest income households sp..