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KMID : 1124020050210020169
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Korean Social Security Studies
2005 Volume.21 No. 2 p.169 ~ p.196
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A critical Evaluation of the Korean Health Insurance System and its Reform Strategy
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Lee Jung-Woo
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Abstract
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This study aimed at providing a knowledge base for health security system, recognizing the current health care system needs a reform on an extensive scale and scope. The primary goal of institutional reform is to establish comprehensive health security system providing a good quality health benefits regardless of income level of individuals from an egalitarian perspective. The second goal is to maximize the consumer`s sovereignty in buying health insurance goods according to individual condition and preference. The final goal is to achieve financial stability of health insurance system on a long-term base where the cost of health security is payable and bearable individually as well as nationally. These goals of the reform will be accomplished by clear role division between public sector and private sector. This study suggests policy measures for the successful reform with a value-neutral stand as follows. The first policy alternative is to construct two-tier health security system where the current national health insurance system is responsible for the primary and basic health security of the general population and private health insurance is providing the secondary and additional health services. The second policy alternative is to transfer the whole health security responsibility to private health insurance except the destitute class who cannot pay insurance fees. The third policy alternative is to apply the principle of competition to health security system, thus divide the current monopolized health insurance system into multiple systems on occupational or regional basis and let them to compete with private health insurance companies on an equal basis.
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KEYWORD
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national health insurance, private health insurance, health security, market failure, principle of competition
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