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

BackgroundChina 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.MethodsPanel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were used, covering four periods: 20...

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Main Authors: Qian Chen, Sang Ma, Xinyue Lyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1498105/full
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author Qian Chen
Qian Chen
Sang Ma
Xinyue Lyu
author_facet Qian Chen
Qian Chen
Sang Ma
Xinyue Lyu
author_sort Qian Chen
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundChina 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.MethodsPanel 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThe 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.
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spelling doaj-art-6ffbefa99742455ab98b44b48ba2a38d2025-08-20T02:25:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14981051498105Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in ChinaQian Chen0Qian Chen1Sang Ma2Xinyue Lyu3School of Government, Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, ChinaSchool of Government, Yunnan University, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, ChinaBackgroundChina 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.MethodsPanel 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThe 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1498105/fulllong-term care insurance (LTCI)long-term care (LTC)policy evaluationdifference-in-difference modelhealth performance
spellingShingle Qian Chen
Qian Chen
Sang Ma
Xinyue Lyu
Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in China
Frontiers in Public Health
long-term care insurance (LTCI)
long-term care (LTC)
policy evaluation
difference-in-difference model
health performance
title Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in China
title_full Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in China
title_fullStr Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in China
title_full_unstemmed Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in China
title_short Effects of long-term care insurance on health: a study of the middle-aged and older adult in pilot cities in China
title_sort effects of long term care insurance on health a study of the middle aged and older adult in pilot cities in china
topic long-term care insurance (LTCI)
long-term care (LTC)
policy evaluation
difference-in-difference model
health performance
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1498105/full
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