Effects of Population Aging on Personal Health Consumption of the Early Elderly and Late Elderly in Korea

In this study, using the data of the 2019 annual data of the 2nd Korean Medical Panel. In order to understand the effect of the health level of the elderly in Korea on personal health consumption, the Tobit model was analyzed, 2608 (58.4%) aged 65 to 74 years old early elderly and 1857 (41.6%) aged 75 years or older were included. The results are as follows. First, there was a difference in health level between the early Korean elderly and the late elderly, and the difference in physical health level was larger. Second, The level of physical health had a greater impact on health consumption than the level of psychological health, and in particular, the factors of physical health level, need for care and regular exercise had the greatest impact on health consumption of the elderly. Third, according to the general characteristics, the education level of the Korean elderly has an effect on health consumption, and the health consumption of the female early elderly and the early elderly with spouses is higher. At last, depression, suicidal ideation, and subjective health status appeared to have higher effects on medical consumption in the elderly. In the late elderly group, patients with chronic diseases showed higher medical consumption than the early elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the difference in the health level of the elderly by age group. Also, the government and community need to pay attention to the mental health problems of the elderly and improve their cognitive abilities. The government should also pay attention to the development of the elderly