Veterans' and nonveterans' use of health services. A comparative analysis

Abstract

This study compares the use of health services by veterans with that by nonveterans; compares the use of health services by veterans from different service cohorts with each other; and examines the correlates of veterans' use of the VA health care delivery system. After adjusting for differences in the predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics, there were virtually no meaningful differences in the use of health services between veterans and nonveterans. This suggests that health care planning within the VA can proceed similarly to health care planning for the civilian population, albeit taking into consideration the significant difference in the sex distribution between the two populations. Virtually no meaningful or consistent veteran cohort effects on the use of health services were found. This suggests that health care planning within the VA may proceed without regard to changes in the nature of the veteran cohort structure. Finally, although there was a strong and obvious effect of service-connected disabilities (high-priority eligibility due to health status) on the use of the VA health care delivery system for veterans, there was no effect of being 65 years of age and older (high-priority eligibility due to age) on the use of the VA. Aside from service-connected disabilities, limited access to other health care delivery systems was the major factor behind the demand for VA care.