Does widowhood explain gender differences in out-of-pocket medical spending among the elderly?

► We study the impact of widowhood on out-of-pocket health spending among the elderly. ► Out-of-pocket health spending rises by about 24 percent upon widowhood. ► This increase is largely driven by spending on nursing homes. ► As women live longer than men, more women than men are widowed at any age. ► This explains about one third of the gender difference in out-of-pocket spending.