Table 2 Social health insurance structure in South Korea before and after the merger

South Korea

Before

(A single) social health insurance scheme, 1979

government employees and teachers and their dependents (based on employment)

The benefit package of health insurance mainly includes curative services, but includes biannual health checkups and vaccination is provided free of charge in public health centres

Benefit package was the same for all in South Korea even before the merger of insurance societies in 2000

For industrial workers and government and school employees, contribution is proportional to wage income and shared equally between the employee and employer. Before the merger of insurance societies in 2000, the average contribution rate was 5.6% (of wage income) for government and school employees.

the Ministry of Health and Welfare

140 social health insurance schemes, 1977

for industrial workers and their dependents

″

For industrial workers and government and school employees, contribution is proportional to wage income and shared equally between the employee and employer. 3.75% for industrial workers, with a range of 3.0–4.2% depending on the insurance society

the Ministry of Health and Welfare

about 230 health insurance societies (92 in rural and 135 in urban areas), 1981

for the self-employed and workers in firms with less than five employees, based on residential area

″

-

the Ministry of Health and Welfare

Medicaid, 1977

for the poor (3–5% of the population)

″

-

the Ministry of Health and Welfare

After

the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC), 2000

All population

″

As of 2006, the contribution rate was 4.48% (NHIC 2007).