ABSTRACT
This paper uses the binomial logistic regression model and the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study ( CHALRS) to analyze the influencing factors on the choice of public or private hospitals by mid-dle-aged and elderly patients. The study finds that rural residents are significantly influenced by the self-evaluation of health, on-demand clinic consultation, and the use of basic medical insurance systems. There is a higher probability that patients that are not as healthy and that require clinical consultation or the use of the basic medical insurance sys-tem will choose public hospitals. The study concludes that elderly patients have greater trust in public hospitals when they seek treatment for disease risks. Moreover, the fixed points of medical insurance are concentrated in public hos-pitals, thereby prompting patients to choose public hospitals. It is suggested that the prevention and control of senile diseases be strengthened, the level of hospital consulting services be improved, and the access mechanisms of medi-cal insurance fixed point hospitals be adjusted.