OUT-OF-POCKET HEALTH EXPENDITURE OF THE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM DIABETES MELLITUS & CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Abstract

"Out of Pocket Health Expenditure" (OOPHE) refers to the amount that the patient or their family pay directly to the healthcare provider without the involvement of a third party (insurance company, state). It is the payment which is directly paid by the patient on the visit to a private clinic or super specialty hospitals, which includes the doctor’s fees, injection charges, medicines, if injured the dressing charges, and etc., In addition to medical expenses, non-medical expenses can also be incurred. Non-medical costs include traveling expenses, lodging costs of escorts, attendant fees, charges for blood, etc., whereas OOPHE could include fees of doctors' fees, medicines, diagnostics, operations, and charges for blood. This study especially deals with the out-of-pocket health expenditure of the patients suffering from diabetes Mellitus & Cardio Vascular diseases. A total of 400 patients were taken for the study. Statistical techniques like F-test, unpaired t-test and ANOVA were used in order to determine whether there is any significant difference between the average Out-of -Pocket Health Expenditure of CVD and Diabetes patients. Also, Multiple linear regression was used in order to determine the important independent variables which significantly impacted the total expenditure of the patients. An important variable i.e., total medical expenditure was included in the model and was tested whether it had a significant impact on the total monthly expenditure of patient.

Keywords: Out of Pocket Health Expenditure (OOPHE), Diabetes Mellitus ,    Cardiovascular diseases, Medical Expenses and Total Expenditure.