• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.37-68
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• 2007

Health insurance has gone far toward solving Korea's health related problems through thirty years. Health Insurance as social security system has a role of national system to secure national health. But there are many problems in health insurance. There is a dispute about many issues, coverage of health security, compulsory appointment of health insurance organization, coverage and level of health insurance benefit, decisionmaking right of health insurance price, examination of health insurance etc. Generally, the opinion for health insurance policy to be leaded by nation sets against the opinion to be leaded by private sector. It is necessary to study politics of law, constitute law and comparative law for rational solving these problems. If desirable setting of health law system can be made, legal system must be set during a long time and be discussed synthetically in different standpoint.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.57-94
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• 2000

Korea's social health insurance system was introduced in 1977, which has made a universal coverage possibly by July 1989. Korean government had pursued a single objective for the last decade to put the whole population under the coverage of medical security, and the objective was achieved within 12 years. The rapid accomplishment is primarily due to such factors as limited benefits, high copayment rate, low contributions as well as rapid economic growth. There are several sources of pressure for the implementation of social health insurance such as health professional group, labor unions, politicians, international organizations etc.. However it is important to look at the feasibility of social health insurance. Among other things, it is necessary to identify the administrative infrastructure of insurance system and to assess income for source of fund. As many developed countries, Korea began to apply health insurance to the employees of the large firms, and the expansion based on employment status. Thus the several funds system was inevitable according to the gradual expansion strategy. However many persons had criticized several funds system in respect with equity and efficiency aspects. In the short history of the Korean health insurance, whether one fund or sever or funds had been the most controversial issue. In Febrary 1999, the National Assembly passed the act of one fund system. From July 2000 separate funds will be unifed under new health insurance scheme. In this study we will analyze the policy making process on implementation, expansion and integration of health insurance system of Korea. And also analyse problems related to policy making.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.208-220
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to determine health problems experienced by workers in special employment relationships (WSER) and identify coping strategies used when such problems occur. Methods: This qualitative study used the focus group interview method. Thirteen study participants included five home-visit tutors, five insurance salespersons, and three credit card recruiters. The interviews were conducted from November 2018 through January 2019, with each occupational group interview lasting about 2 hours. Analysis based on phenomenological research was independently performed by two researchers. Results: Most participants had common health problems involving vocal cord symptoms, and stress related to emotional labor and traffic accidents. The unique health problems included cystitis, musculoskeletal, and digestive symptoms in home-visit tutors; reduced vision and hearing in insurance salespersons; and mental distress in credit card recruiters. There was no protection system for their health coverage, and the company emphasized their self-employed status to avoid taking responsibility for them. Twelve participants did not purchase occupational accident insurance owing to both not having adequate information and economic burden concerning premium status. Conclusion: WSER experienced both physical and mental health problems. These problems were caused by their unstable employment status, and the social security system for their coverage being non-functioning.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.459-468
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• 2010

International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) is widely used as a crucial reference not only in the medical diagnosis of diseases but also within the health insurance system. It makes possible for medical personnel to make decisions systematically and for the people working in the health insurance or public health industries to better understand medical issues. However, this classification is often not enough or acceptable in a clinical setting. Many countries amend in their own way to make it more appropriate for their people. Korean Classification of Disease (KCD-5) was made by adding a 5 digit code for some diseases to clarify the conditions of the patients. The authors found problems of KCD-5 in temporomandibular disorders and several related medical problems. Medical treatment for these problems had not been covered even by public health insurance until 2000 in Korea. For the last decade, private insurance companies have introduced new items for reimbursement of the treatment fees the patients actually pay. The authors assumed that many patients with these medical problems encountered difficulties in the reimbursement from private insurance companies because KCD-5 did not classify these medical conditions appropriately. An overview of KCD-5 and suggestions for improvement are introduced in this study.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-26
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• 2010

We achieved both industrialization and democratization during the shortest period in the world. We also achieved good performance in national health insurance: universal coverage, solidarity in financing, equitable access of health care. However, national health insurance system has faced the problem of sustainability: various expenditure and financing problems. The problem of sustainablity has two facets of economic sustainability and fiscal sustainability. Economic sustainability refers to growth in health spending as a proportion of gross domestic product(GDP). Rapid increasing rate of health spending exceeds the growth rate of domestic product. Growth in health spending is more likely to threaten other areas of economic activity. Concern on fiscal sustainability relates to revenue and expenditure on health care. Health care financing face demographic and technical obstacles. Democratic obstacle is aging problem. Technical obstacle is collection of contribution. Expenditure of health care has various problems in benefit structure and efficiency of health care system. In this article, I suggest several policy reforms to enhance sustainability: generating additional revenue from value added tax, changing method of levying contribution, increasing efficiency of health care system by introducing the competition principle. restructuring of benefit scheme of health insurance. contracting with health care institutions to provide health care services.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.179-194
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• 1991

Despite its universal coverage of health insurance, the rural health insurance program(RHIP) stands at the crossroads in Korea. The RHIP has weaknesses in stability of financing, problems of inequities in the provision of health services and has suffered from high cost of running the program. The author has analyzed these problems from the perspective of health insurance policy and presented several options for improvement. First of all, this study urged the importance of a firm Governmental commitment of RHIP with the 50% subsidization of contributions as the Government had promised, instead of the current 40%. This can be justified from the 20% subsidization by the Government for the contributions of private school teachers and their dependents, who belong to richer segments of the population. Second, various cost containment measures ought to be sought curbing the rising demand for medical through strengthening health education and increasing individual responsibility, and tightening the claim review process. Third, this study requires the Government to run a demonstration project on the introduction of case payment system for primary health care. Fourth introducing an income-related cost sharing scheme is another possibility. Reforming the cost sharing formula for large medical expenditures is recommendable for a beginning. This measure can take the form of tax credit for medical expenditures of the poor. Fifth, the degree of financial adjustment among health insurance plans should be levelled up for enhancing stability of RHIP and social solidarity. Sixth, health policy should be redirected toward development of rural health resources and higher priority should be put on relieving difficulties in access to care. Seventh. the insurance plan owned-hospital needs to be developed or provision of health services in the medically underserved areas, and the need of such facilities is particularly acute for geriatric care, rehabilitation and renal dialysis, etc. Eighth, more generous insurance benefits are required of the elderly who are suffering the most : elimination of the maximum 180 days of benefit period and provision of glasses and artificial dentures, etc. Ninth. the economies of scale principle is working for the operating expenses of regional self-employed insurance plan. Thus, measures should be instituted to pursue an optimum size of health insurance plans. Lastly, excessive dependence on exclusion items is an evil so that some radical remedies are urgently required to cut them.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.285-288
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• 2020

The health insurance system in Korea is well-established and provides benefits for the entire national population. In Korea, when patients are treated at a hospital, the hospital receives a partial payment for the treatment from the patient, and the remaining amount is provided by the health insurance service. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) assesses whether the treatment was appropriate. If HIRA deems the treatment appropriate, the doctor can receive payment from the health insurance service. However, this system has several drawbacks. In this study, we aimed to provide examples of the problems that can occur in relation to HIRA assessments in Korea through actual clinical cases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.219-225
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• 2020

Background: There is increasing concern that moderate preterm (32-33 weeks' gestation) and late preterm (34-36 weeks' gestation) birth may be associated with minor neurodevelopmental problems affecting poor school performance. Purpose: We explored the cognitive function, cognitive visual function, executive function, and behavioral problems at school age in moderate to late preterm infants. Methods: Children aged 7-10 years who were born at 32⁺⁰ to 36⁺⁶ weeks of gestation and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from August 2006 to July 2011 at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital were included. We excluded children with severe neurologic impairments, congenital malformations, or chromosomal abnormalities. Neuropsychological assessments consisted of 5 neuropsychological tests and 3 questionnaires. Results: A total of 37 children (mean age, 9.1±1.2 years) participated. The mean gestational age at birth was 34.6±7.5 weeks, while the mean birth weight was 2,229.2±472.8 g. The mean full-scale intelligence quotient was 92.89±11.90; 24.3% scored between 70 and 85 (borderline intelligence functioning). An abnormal score was noted for at least one of the variables on the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnostic system for 65% of the children. Scores below borderline function for executive quotient and memory quotient were 32.4% and 24.3%, respectively. Borderline or clinically relevant internalizing problems were noted in 13.5% on the Child Behavior Check List. There were no significant associations between perinatal factors or socioeconomic status and cognitive, visual perception, executive function, or behavior outcomes. Conclusion: Moderate to late preterm infants are at risk of developing borderline intelligence functioning and attention problems at early school age. Cognitive and executive functions that are important for academic performance must be carefully monitored and continuously followed up in moderate to late preterm infants.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2019

In the past, social insurance premiums, such as national pension and national health insurance, is contained within the costs of construction projects, have been lowered due to price competition of companies participating in the bidding. The government is implementing the "Ex-post settlement system" to improve the problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the concept of an Ex-post settlement system and background of its introduction and to identify problems in the management of the system. The problems of the Ex-post settlement system are: 1) avoiding the participation of construction workers, 2) the rigidity of the insurance premium settlement method in construction field, and 3) the cause of direct construction cost reduction. The ways to improve these problems are: 1) excluding social insurance premiums from construction project cost, 2) securing flexibility of the settlement method of insurance premiums in construction field, and 3) expanding the scope of persons eligible to participate in social insurance.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.37-82
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• 2009

Korea has gained the much more performances in the fields of pubic health laws and related policies on the basis of the substantial economic achievements. In 1977, the social medical insurance was established for companies with more than 500 employees, and in 1989, Korea successfully achieved the national medical insurance system covering the total population within only 12 years beginning with multiple insurers. There remained some problems, however, to be improved such as both the low level of contribution rates and benefit packages due to the inefficiency in utilizing limited medical resources. In 2000, all insurers were unified into a single insurer (National Health Insurance Corporation), and special independent Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) was also established. From the origin of medical insurance system in 1977, the Korean reimbursement system has been fee-for-service system, and after the establishment of HIRA, it has been providing objective and expert medical cost review services and health quality assessment services.