Some evidence on the effectiveness of universal health care Medicare, socio-economic status, and self-reported health in Canada


Anders Holm, Western University

Canada’s Medicare system is a universal health care system (UHC) with the explicit goal to improve overall health and reduce differences in health related to socio-economic status (SES). Using a natural experiment research design, we explore the extent to which these objectives have been achieved. Linear probability models are fitted to data from two waves of the General Social Survey of Canada. Accounting for general changes over time, we assess the relationship between years of exposure to Medicare and the self-reported health of Canadians born between 1922 and 1972. Medicare has had a positive, though modest, impact on self-reported health. It has not decreased socio-economic differences in health, however. In fact, exposure to Medicare is associated with a widening difference in self-reported health between those with a university degree and those without one. We argue that this growing difference reflects social and cultural capital factors.

Non-presenting authors: Robert Andersen, Western University; Kamma Andersen, Western University; Anders hjort-trolle, Rockwool foundation

This paper will be presented at the following session: