To what extent does poor health precede welfare?

Background: It is well known that individuals receiving social assistance have more health problems than those with higher incomes. In this paper, we estimate the proportion of social assistance recipients who were on welfare following a drop in health status.

Methods: The study population consisted of Saskatchewan adults who had been continuously off social assistance for 12 consecutive months followed by 6 months on social assistance.

An investigation of the impact of supplementary health benefits for low-income families in Saskatchewan.

Objectives: To examine the changes in health service use by recipients of Family Health Benefits, a supplementary benefits program that was introduced to lower-income, working families in Saskatchewan beginning in July 1998. These benefits reduced or eliminated fees for prescription drugs and for chiropractic, optometric and dental services.

Methods: The study population included program beneficiaries between July 1998 and January 2000.