Sustainability of Korean National Health Insurance.
Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) was established during only 12 yr from its inception (1977-1989), providing universal medical coverage to the entire nation and making a huge contribution to medical security. However, the program now faces many challenges in terms of sustainability. The low birth rates, aging population, low economic growth, and escalating demands for welfare, as well as unification issues, all add pressure to the sustainability of NHI. The old paradigm of low contribution--low benefits coverage--low NHI's fee schedule needs to be replaced by a new paradigm of proper contribution--adequate benefit coverage--fair NHI's fee schedule. This new paradigm will require reform of NHI's operating system, funding, and spending.
Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Myoung Sheen
MS
Kang
Hoo Sun
HS
Jang
Minjee
M
Lee
Eun-Cheol
EC
Park
D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000191:economics