Social Science Quarterly | Volume 96 | Issue 1 | March 2015
Abstract: Objective. We examine how the economic crisis has affected individuals’ use of
routine medical care and assess the extent to which the impact varies depending on
national context. Methods. Data from a new cross-national survey fielded in the
United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, and Germany are used to estimate the
effects of employment and wealth shocks and financial fragility on the use of routine
care. Results. We document reductions in individuals’ use of routine nonemergency
medical care in the midst of the economic crisis. Americans reduced care more than
individuals in Great Britain, Canada, France, and Germany. At the national level,
reductions in care are related to the degree to which individuals must pay for it, and
within countries, reductions are linked to shocks to wealth and employment and to
financial fragility. Conclusions. The economic crisis has led to reductions in the use
of routine medical care, and systems of national insurance provide some protection
against these effects.