In Colombia, social pension income improves self-reported older men's health

In a new study appearing in the March issue of Health Affairs, Philipp Hessel of the University of the Andes and coauthors assessed the effects of Colombia Mayor, a noncontributory pension program providing eligible low-income elderly Colombians with a small monthly cash transfer of US$16-34, on health and health care.

The authors used data from a nationally representative household survey of older Colombians for the years 2010-13. Respondents reported their health status, any health problems, and doctor visits and hospitalizations. According to the study, male recipients of Colombia Mayor were 5.6 percent less likely to report bad health, and had a 5.4 percent reduced likelihood of being hospitalized.

The authors found no significant effect among women or among men for other health and health care use outcomes.

"Our results suggest that social policies that address poverty may be a useful part of a broader strategy to achieve healthy aging," the authors conclude. "The increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases among the lower socioeconomic groups makes this potential source of cost reduction even more important."