Health Insurances and the Health-Related Work Capacity of Retirement-Aged Workers: A Comparative Investigation

J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Mar 1;64(3):e155-e164. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002471.

Abstract

Objective: This study is to investigate the health-related work capacity of retirement-aged workers under the beneficiary status of different health insurance schemes in China.

Method: Using the data from CHARLS program, we investigate the health-related work capacity of retirement-aged workers in China (more than 60/55 years-old for men/women respectively). Multivariate regressions and robustness checks (Heckman two-stage procedures, chronological design, etc) are conducted.

Results: (1) Late-life career participation could reduce the risk of declining work capacity due to health problems; (2) different social health insurances affect health-related work capacity among retirement-aged workers differently; (3) social health insurances influence the role of late-life career participation in reducing the risk of health-related work capacity, with different schemes displaying different effects (mitigate or strengthen).

Conclusions: Systematic inequity in benefit across health insurances may result in contrasting health outcomes of retirement-aged workers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • China
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Health*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retirement*