An Empirical Research of Substitutability between Medical Services and Over-the-Counter Medication. An Analysis of Thirteen Different Minor Ailments.

Abstract

This paper examines the choice of health care for minor aliments in Japan for patients suffering from thirteen different minor aliments. Original data were obtained from a survey conducted by the authors. For the common cold, shoulder/neck pain, backache, constipation/diarrea, asthenopia, various skin diseases, and hameorrhoids, an increase in the coinsurance rate statistically significantly lowers the demand for medical services.MEDICAL CARE ; INSURANCE ; HEALTH