321795
Effects of public and private health insurances on self-rated health status in the National Health Insurance system: A four-year national panel study of in the Republic of Korea
Methods: The study data were obtained from 10867 respondents to the Korea Health Panel, a nationally representative longitudinal sample survey undertaken between 2008 and 2011. We employed hierarchical logistic regression models to assess types of self-rated health (SRH) status and added the interaction terms of socioeconomic status and type of insurance. There are four types of health insurance subscribers in Korea: (1) Those with NHI but not PHI; (2) those with PHI but not NHI; (3) those with both NHI and PHI; and (4) those with neither NHI nor PHI.
Results: After controlling for sociodemographic covariates, medical aid recipients were 2.10 times more likely to have a low SRH status than those who were covered by NHI only, even though the former’s healthcare utilization was higher. When the interaction terms were included in the model, those who were not covered by NHI and had completed elementary school or less were 16.59 times more likely to have a low SRH status compared to those who were covered by NHI and had earned a college degree or higher.
Conclusions: The Korean NHI system increases inequality of accessibility among insurance subscribers. Therefore, a parallel insurance and customized medical service system should be implemented in order to enhance the population’s health. This study’s results indicate the importance of the NHI system to people who experience the double pressure of social inequality and health inequality.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related researchSocial and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Identify the four type of health insurance in national health insurance (NHI) system: (1) Those with NHI but not PHI (private health insurance); (2) those with PHI but not NHI; (3) those with both NHI and PHI; and (4) those with neither NHI nor PHI (i.e., the basic livelihood security recipients).
Discuss by highlighting how the four type of health insurance affects the self-rated health of medical consumers.
Explain the effects of public and private health insurance on self-rated health status in the NHI system.
Analyze the interrelationship between national and private health insurance having influence on the insurer’s medical service utilization and their health status.
Keyword(s): Health Insurance, Health Disparities/Inequities
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: We wish to thank the study participants for their dedication and there was no funding for this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.