Main Indicators of National Health Insurance during 40 Years.
10.4332/KJHPA.2017.27.3.267
- Author:
Sang Ah LEE
1
;
Eun Cheol PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Editorial
- Keywords:
National Health Insurance;
Universal coverage;
Sustainability
- MeSH:
Anniversaries and Special Events;
Delivery of Health Care;
Health Expenditures;
Health Services Needs and Demand;
Humans;
National Health Programs*;
Public Health;
Universal Coverage
- From:Health Policy and Management
2017;27(3):267-271
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the introduction of National Health Insurance (NHI) which has contributed to improving public health and accessibility. This article aims to show the trends of main indicators during the last 40 years. NHI has achieved rapid expansion of target population (1977–1989). The percentage of population covered increased from 8.8% in 1977 to 94% in 1990. The average number of visit days per person was 0.75 in 1977 but significantly increased to 31.11 in 2015. In 2015, NHI revenues were 52.4 trillion won and expenditures were 48.2 trillion won which is 9.5 times and 9.6 times higher than in 1995. NHI achieved universal coverage in short period of time and has contributed to improving the healthcare status. However, there still remain problems including low-benefit coverage and high out of pocket money. Therefore, the effort to reform these problems is needed.
