Building Systems for Universal Health Coverage in South Korea

Sanggon Na and Soonman Kwon

No 98266, Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) Discussion Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: This paper broadly examines the development process of Korea’s health care system toward the achievement of Universal Health Coverage. Korea implemented a series of health care reforms after a rapid expansion of population coverage to improve efficiency and equity in financing and delivery of health care. The authors also investigate changes in the governance structure of Korea’s national health Insurance, which is now represented by two agencies: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Health insurance agencies have improved the accountability and transparency of the health insurance system, thanks to the ICT-based centralized claim review and assessment. Lessons and challenges from Korea’s experiences and achievements on the road to UHC could provide valuable policy implications to low- and middle-income countries.

Keywords: health care providers; health information system; health insurance coverage; access to health care; employment; risks; fee- for-service; health planning; health insurance ... See More + system; physician; stroke; financing; informal sector; pharmacists; information system; health reforms; income; quality of health care; fee for service; health care utilization; fee-for-service; doctors; fee-for- service system; health care reform; health economics; hospital sector; primary care; pocket payment; monitoring; cost sharing; health insurance; health care; financial protection; health insurance expenditure; social insurance contributions; health care facilities; incentives; national health insurance; health; health care reforms; provision of services; pocket payments; contribution rates; information systems; public health; life expectancy; quality of health; knowledge; health sector; insurance funds; health information systems; choice; demand for health care; cost effectiveness; multiple insurers; private hospitals; health institutions; costs; pharmaceutical spending; cost control; patients; patient; public long- term care insurance; aging; social insurance; health insurance scheme; marketing; medical care; insurers; health care quality; social security; risk sharing; health care coverage; social development; insurance coverage; public insurance; mortality; financial incentive; health care system; health promotion; administrative costs; health information; health spending; reimbursement rates; social marketing; unemployment; equity; health specialist; workers; social health insurance; fee schedule; surgery; public long-term care; health care provision; incentives for providers; health-care; fee schedules; care; contribution rate; health policy; medical services; social policy; demand; health outcomes; health-care providers; insurance contributions; public providers; income countries; health care financing; decision making; measurement; nutrition; beds; health coverage; social welfare; insurance system; fee-for-service payment; internet; national health; health system; insurance; delivery of health care; physicians; health care delivery; cancer patient; clinics; evaluation; risk; inpatient care; health providers; fee-for- service; demand for health; health insurance contributions; integration; health expenditure; ability to pay; hospital admission; health care expenditure; health insurance funds; sustainable health care; population; hospital beds; health insurance program; public long- term care; strategy; fees; medicines; medicaid; hospitals; implementation; pregnancy; capita health expenditure; provider payment; medical fees; financial incentives; health reform; access to drugs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: pages 34 pages
Date: 2015-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-ias
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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