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No Pain, No Strain: Impact of Health on the Financial Security of Older Americans

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  • Angela Lyons
  • Hyungsoo Kim

Abstract

This study uses data from the 2002 and 2004 Health and Retirement Study to investigate the impact that health problems have on the financial strain of older Americans. Two-stage probit models are estimated for a series of financial ratio guidelines that take into account household solvency, liquidity, and investment asset accumulation. We test our models using a subjective measure of self-reported health status and two objective measures of health that control for the severity of specific health conditions. The results show that health problems significantly increase the likelihood of financial strain for older individuals, and the magnitudes of the effects vary by the type of financial strain and how health status is defined. Those most likely to experience some type of financial strain are those with severe chronic conditions. The results provide insight into the future financial security of older Americans and have important implications for health policy and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Angela Lyons & Hyungsoo Kim, 2007. "No Pain, No Strain: Impact of Health on the Financial Security of Older Americans," NFI Working Papers 2007-WP-12, Indiana State University, Scott College of Business, Networks Financial Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:nfi:nfiwps:2007-wp-12
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    Cited by:

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    2. Gianluigi Guido & Cesare Amatulli & Andrea Sestino, 2020. "Elderly consumers and financial choices: A systematic review," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(3), pages 76-85, December.
    3. Andrzej Woloszyn & Joanna Stanislawska & Romana Głowicka-Woloszyn & Agnieszka Kozera & Anna Rosa, 2021. "Multidimensional Assessment of Polish Farm Household Financial Security by TOPSIS and Generalised Distance Measure," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 534-553.
    4. Irina Grafova, 2011. "Financial Strain and Smoking," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 327-340, June.
    5. Yunhee Chang & Jinhee Kim & Swarn Chatterjee, 2018. "Health Care Expenditures, Financial Stability, and Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)," Papers 1811.05421, arXiv.org.
    6. Heo, Wookjae & Lee, Jae Min & Park, Narang & Grable, John E., 2020. "Using Artificial Neural Network techniques to improve the description and prediction of household financial ratios," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    7. Radion Svynarenko & Qun Zhang & Hyungsoo Kim, 2019. "The Financial Burden of Cancer: Financial Ratio Analysis," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 165-179, June.
    8. Sharifah Haron & Deanna Sharpe & Jariah Masud & Mohamed Abdel-Ghany, 2010. "Health Divide: Economic and Demographic Factors Associated with Self-Reported Health Among Older Malaysians," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 328-337, September.

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