Research indicates that self-rated health is related to a variety of health-related outcomes, such as mortality and functional disability, even when controlling for more “objective” health measures. The present study extends previous research by prospectively examining the relation between self-rated health and health care use among a representative sample of elderly Canadians (N = 1,181) interviewed in 1991/92. Survey data were linked to administrative records of health care use. Self-rated health was positively related to the number of physician visits during the 12 months following the survey, as well as to the number of tests incurred (e.g., laboratory tests, X-rays), even when controlling for demographic variables, functional disability, morbidity, and prior health care use. Older adults who rated their health as “bad/poor” or “fair” were also more likely to be hospitalized than those who rated their health as “excellent”. These results highlight the importance of considering global measures of health when examining health care use.
