Investigating Effects of Economic and Social Factors on Entry of Households in the Health Market and their Health Expenditures: Study of Urban and Rural Households Living in Tehran and Neighboring Provinces

Improving level of health and increasing life expectancy of people requires investment on health through use of health products. Since the health products benefits need to be financed, it can be said that health expenditure is necessary for a healthy society. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting on entry of households in the health market and their health expenditures.

This study considering the health expenditures characteristics of urban and rural households living in Tehran province and neighboring provinces, to identify the factors influencing entry of households in the health market and their health expenditures has been used sample selection model and Hackman's two-step estimation method. It is worth noting that given difficulty in choosing a sample, it is necessary to use sample selection models to obtain reliable estimates.

The results show that gender, health insurance services, tobacco costs, head of household status, education, number of children, youth and elderly and urbanization are among most important factors affecting on entry of households in the health market and their health expenditures; but education cannot affect decision of these households to enter the health market.

According to the current situation, for households with low income, households with more members, older households and households with a predominant gender (women) should be considered special support schemes.