Empirical Analysis on the Effect of Preventive Care Programs in Japan Evidence from Municipality-level data

This study examines the effects of the number of preventive care programs on the number of certified less disabled recipients for long-term care insurance. By constituting a municipality-level two-period panel data, we find that the total number of preventive care programs significantly decreases the number of certified less disabled recipients. When looking at the details of preventive care programs, we find the number of physical activities and dining party activities has a negative effect. And we also examine the combination of preventive care activities and find the effects of physical activities and dining party activities are relatively robust. We conclude that the design of preventive care programs should be considered the characteristics of objects, especially the elderly.