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To what extent does poor health precede welfare?
Evan Morris1, David Rosenbluth, Doug Scott
1EcoTech Research Ltd., Regina, SK. ecotech@sasktel.net
Summary
Deteriorating health often precedes welfare receipt. Over half of increased physician service use occurred in the year before receiving social assistance, suggesting health decline is a key factor.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Public Health
- Social Determinants of Health
Background:
- Individuals receiving social assistance experience disproportionately more health problems compared to higher-income groups.
- This study investigates the link between declining health status and the subsequent need for social assistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the proportion of social assistance recipients whose welfare enrollment followed a decline in health.
- To identify the temporal relationship between health status changes and social assistance receipt.
Main Methods:
- The study analyzed Saskatchewan adults with a specific social assistance history: 12 months off, followed by 6 months on.
- Health status was operationalized through the utilization of physician services.
- Changes in physician service rates were examined over an 18-month period.
Main Results:
- Nearly half (49%) of the study participants showed an increase in physician service utilization over the 18 months.
- For individuals with increased service use, 53% of this rise happened within the 12 months preceding their social assistance enrollment.
Conclusions:
- Increased physician service use, indicating deteriorating health, appears to be a significant precursor to welfare receipt for many individuals.
- Interventions focused on improving health status could potentially reduce reliance on social assistance.