Physical Activity and Ex Ante Moral Hazard in Health Insurance: Evidence for Brazil

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 119S3 (2012) S851–S852

Posted: 29 Nov 2012

See all articles by Marcia Regina Godoy

Marcia Regina Godoy

Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos - Faculty of Economics

Angélica Massuquetti

University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS)

Giacomo Balbinotto Neto

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

André Azevedo

University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS)

Date Written: August 28, 2012

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the determinants of participation in physical activity or sport of women between 20 and 40 years, the South and Northeast regions of Brazil.

Basic economic theory suggests that health insurance coverage may cause a reduction in prevention activities. This implies that receipt of insurance will result in an increase in unhealthy behaviors like smoking and drinking. This is often referred to as ex ante moral hazard. Many empirical studies have yet to provide evidence to support this prediction. However, in other insurance contexts that involve adverse health events, evidence of ex ante moral hazard is more consistent. In this paper, we also analyzed of the effect of health insurance on health behaviors, specifically in sporting participation.

Materials: Using data from a national household survey, the Pesquisa Nacional de Amostra de Domicilios (PNAD) de 2008 we analysed the determinants of sporting participation for women of 20 at 40 years old, in Brazil. IN PNAD 2008 were interviewed 391,000 men and women of all Brazil.

Methods: In the estimation of the determinants of physical activity and health insurance was employed a logistic regression model. The variables explanatory used were: schooling, age, colour/race, travel time to work, participation in the labour market, household income per capita, mother of a child up to 5 years of age, number of children, self-assessment of health status and health plan(insurance) ownership.

Results: On average, 28% of women interviewed practiced some physical activity, but as there is a positive relationship between income and practice of physical exercise, the percentage of practitioners varies from 11% to 72% depending on the household per capita income. For the duration of the practice of physical exercise, 91% of practitioners spent at least 30 minutes of physical activity. The practice of walking is associated with women with less education and income. Our results from logit regressions are that sporting participation is positively related to education and household income. Negative factors, for example, dependent children have a larger negative effect on physical activity participation for women.

The results showed racial and regional differences in the determinants of sport participation. In the South the non-white women are more sedentary. Thus, the State programs promote universal access to sports to reduce racial inequalities and to implement policies regionalized.

The model for possession of health plan, the indicator variable practice sporting activity had positive signal and statistically significant showing women who have more practice health plan activities. We find evidence suggests that health insurance was associated with an increase in visits to the doctor.

Conclusions: We provide a detailed statistical investigation into the economic and demographic factors that determine sporting participation in Brazil. The results are consistent with the theory of capital health and show women with more schooling and income health practice more physical activities, i.e. they use part of your free time to produce health. In addition to engaging in sports activities, which cause the depreciation rate of health is lower, they acquire health insurance more than sedentary women. We do not find l evidence that obtaining health insurance reduces prevention behaviors among women in Brazil.

Keywords: physical activity, exercise, women, Brazil, ex ante moral hazard, health insurance

JEL Classification: I11, I12, J20

Suggested Citation

Godoy, Marcia Regina and Massuquetti, Angélica and Neto, Giacomo Balbinotto and Azevedo, André, Physical Activity and Ex Ante Moral Hazard in Health Insurance: Evidence for Brazil (August 28, 2012). International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 119S3 (2012) S851–S852, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2182020

Marcia Regina Godoy (Contact Author)

Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos - Faculty of Economics ( email )

São Leopoldo
Rio Grande do Sul, 93022000
Brazil

Angélica Massuquetti

University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) ( email )

São Leopoldo
Rio Grande do Sul, 93022000
Brazil

Giacomo Balbinotto Neto

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) ( email )

AV. JOAO PESSOA 52 3 ANDAR (PPGE)
UFRGS/PPGE
Porto Alegre RS CEP 90480-004, RS 90.040-000
Brazil
+55 51 33083150 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.ppge.ufrgs.br/giacomo

André Azevedo

University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) ( email )

São Leopoldo
Rio Grande do Sul, 93022000
Brazil

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