Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Trend of South Korea in 2016
10.4332/KJHPA.2018.28.1.95
- Author:
Dong Woo CHOI
1
;
Woorim KIM
;
Eun Cheol PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Catastrophic health expenditure;
Trend;
Income
- MeSH:
Delivery of Health Care;
Family Characteristics;
Health Expenditures;
Korea;
Taxes
- From:Health Policy and Management
2018;28(1):95-97
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Catastrophic health expenditure refers to when a household spends more than 40 percent of disposable income for out-of-pocketexpenses for healthcare. This study investigates the percentage of South Korean household which experienced the catastrophic health expenditure between 2006 and 2016 with the National Survey of Tax and Benefit and the Household Income and Expenditure Survey data. Percentage of households with the catastrophic health expenditure and tread tests were conducted with weight variable. The results of the National Survey of Tax and Benefit and the Household Income and Expenditure Survey showed 2.17% and 2.92% of households experienced the catastrophic health expenditure in 2016. In trend analysis, the National Survey of Tax and Benefit showed a statistically significant decreasing trend in the proportion of households with the catastrophic health expenditure (annual percentage change [APC]=−4.03, p < 0.0001). However, the Household Income and Expenditure Survey revealed a statistically significant increasing trend (APC=1.43, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study suggests that optimal healthcare alternatives are needed for the catastrophic health expenditure and monitoring low-income households.
