The injured victim’s health care spending: is there an effect of the origin of accident?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify if the origin of an accident makes a difference in health care spending incurred by disabled victim. We analyse and model the amount of medical spending for victims whose disabilities are resulting from accidents occurring at home, at work and on road. Data about medical spending were provided by the social security fund in France. These data outline the amount incurred by different disabled persons in the different medical specialties. The results of the model show that although the victims of different types of accident are suffering from the same chronic diseases, they show different levels of medical spending. Persons injured in a road accident have a higher recourse to medical treatments.

Keywords:

• road accident
• domestic accident
• work-related accident
• health care spending
• disability
• injury

JEL Classification:

• C51
• I14
• I15

Acknowledgements

The authors would thank an anonymous referee for the comments done on a previous version.

Notes

¹ In France, complementary universal health care coverage is provided to persons whose income does not exceed a given ceiling (in 2013, 8593 euros per annum for a person living alone). It covers 100% of medical expenses with no initial outlay.