The purpose of this study was to analyze what are the main determinants of access to health services for the elderly people (60 years or more) from the health supplement of the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) in 1998, 2003 and 2008 in Brazil. For this group, the probability of men and women seek health services was analyzed separately for clinical and/or preventive services and for the treatment of diseases. From the econometric model adopted, it was observed that per capita income, education and health condition are important factors that determine the search for more preventive health services and less for treatment of diseases. Statistical differences between men and women regarding the access to health services were also found among the different regions of the country, situation of household (urban or rural), health plans, head of household and age.