The aim of this study is to analyse the factors that determine the demand for private health insurance and the use of emergency services in Spain by applying a binary logit model and a count data model with endogenous explanatory variable. The analysis of the demand for private health insurance shows the positive effect of educational level, income, social class and job skills. Another important factor is specified by means of two variables which are related to physical activities. The use of emergency services is conditioned by variables closely related to double health coverage, as well as to other health-related variables. The paper also analyses the effect of public health system quality on both the demand for private health insurance and the use of emergency services by using a subjective quality perception variable.

Key words: private health insurance, emergency service, quality.
Clasificación JEL: I11, C35.