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KMID : 1124020190350020063
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Korean Social Security Studies
2019 Volume.35 No. 2 p.63 ~ p.92
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Income-related Inequality of Health Care Utilization in Korea, 2009-2015
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Kim Jin-Gu
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Abstract
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This study examined the changing trends of the income-related inequality in health cate utilization in Korea from 2009 to 2015, using Korea Health Panel Data. The Concentration Index(C) and HI index were used for measuring the equity and decomposed into their major influence factors. The main results of this study are the followings. First, Concentration Index of health care utilization in 2009 was -.1785. but it has been gradually declined and indicated -.2083 in 2015. It means there was pro-poor inequity within given periods, and it has grown more slowly. But this trend has resulted from high demand for health care services by low-income group and this make HI Index much higher than Concentration Index. The former ranged -.005 to -.003 in that period. Second, based on comparative analysis between the Concentration Index decomposition of 2010 and that of 2015, the aging of population in Korea, especially the growth of people aged 70 or more was a major factor in the changing trend of inequality in health care utilization. Finally, the continued reduction in the number of Medical Aid Program recipients and the rapid expansion of private health insurance had a decisive effect on making pro-rich inequity increase. Therefore it is necessary for governments to expand the medical assistance programs for low income households including the extension of population coverage by Medical Aid Program.
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KEYWORD
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Health care inequality, Concentration index, HI index, Decomposition of health care inequality
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