Gender Differences in Medical Expenditure of the Rural Elderly and Its Effect Factors: Evidence from Chaohu in China

Using the data from the waves of the survey “Well-being of Elderly in Anhui Province, China” conducted in 2001-2006, this study examines gender differences in medical expenditure of the rural elderly and its effect factors. The results show that proportion of older women who have medical expenditure is higher than that of older men, however, the former spend less than the latter. Tobit models for males and females separately are employed to identify gender differences in the effect factors of medical expenditure of older people. The results show that the older men's medical expenditure dependents on the predisposing factors, while the older women's expenditure relies on the enabling factors such as family and intergenerational supports, which reveals that older men tend to rely on their own economic conditions to meet the medical needs, while older women tend to rely on the financial support from their families. These results tell that, due to the cumulative disadvantages lasting a lifetime, with even worse health and greater demand for medical services, the older women’s medical expenses are relatively less than older men’s. Thus, the elderly vulnerable groups like older women should be of greater concern to policy-makers in future.