# Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in China

## TL;DR

This study finds that long-term care insurance in China improved health outcomes for middle-aged and older adults in pilot cities.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the health benefits of long-term care insurance in China’s aging population.

## Key findings

- Residents in pilot cities showed a 0.093 increase in self-rated health compared to non-pilot cities.
- Health improvements were more pronounced in central and western pilot cities than in eastern ones.
- Factors like education, household registration, and hospital availability influenced health outcomes.

## Abstract

China established a trial long-term care insurance program in 15 cities in 2016 to address the country’s aging population; however, the policy’s impacts must be confirmed.

Panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were used, covering four periods: 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. A difference-in-difference model was applied to analyze the impact of the long-term care insurance policy on health status, comparing residents in pilot cities with those in non-pilot cities.

The implementation of long-term care insurance in pilot cities led to a significant increase in self-rated health of 0.093 levels among surveyed residents compared to those in non-pilot cities. Significant variables included educational attainment, household registration, marital status, and the regional number of hospitals. Additionally, the health condition of citizens in central and western pilot cities improved considerably compared to those in eastern pilot cities.

The long-term care insurance policy has a significant positive effect on the health status of residents, demonstrating its potential as a valuable policy tool to address health challenges associated with an aging population.