• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.309-332
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• 2016

This research attempts to calculate the vertical equity of National Health Insurance Contribution of locally provided policy holders by abilities to pay. Also, this longitudinal study examined the influence of abilities to pay and demographic characteristics on the health insurance premium. Using data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study, this study followed the self-employed households who continued to participate in the survey from 2011 to 2015. Kakwani's index of progressivity was measured as a measure of vertical equity and panel regression analysis was conducted by STATA program. The results of this research are as follows. First, from 2011 to 2015, the values of kakwani's index were negative according to composite income, which meant some levels of regressiveness of contribution. Secondly, panel regression analysis showed that the lowest household of composite income had a significantly negative effect on premiums, which also meant regressiveness. Based on the results, the author suggested political discussions on reorganizing the system of imposing the National Health Insurance contribution.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.185-209
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• 2014

While the local health insurance and the employment-based insurance were integrated in July 2000, the insured is divided into employment-based insured and the local insured and the relevant premium has been applied to both groups. The health insurance premium having the feature of social solidarity has to be determined depending on income, that is, the ability to pay in accordance with the principles of social insurance. While employment-based insurance premium has been determined depending on the earned income, the local insurance premium for the local insured has been determined by scoring gross income(evaluated income), property and possession of automobiles. A variety of improvement approaches has been implemented including introduction of the employment-based insurance premium ceiling system (2002) and the change of property scoring system for the local insured (2006). However, the health insurance system which was merged in 2000 has been implemented up to now without significant change even though there were lots of socio-demographic change including increase of income level and the population structure such as low birth and aging. In other words, it is required to implement the premium rating system securing the income-based equity. Nevertheless, it was inevitable to apply the diverse rating standards in the early stage because it was very difficult to verify the income of the self-employed. Although the income verification rate was significantly increased from 23% in 1989 to 44% in 2010, the irrational standards including property, automobiles, living standard and activity rate have been still applied to the local insured because it is difficult to secure the validity of insurance premium rating system and it severely lacks of security. This paper investigated whether the current insurance premium rating system for the local insured imposing the premium on the basis of 'gender' and 'age' complies with the basic human rights secured by the current Constitution of the Republic of Korea with respect to the practical and theoretic irrationality of insurance premium rating system and standards for he local insured. In accordance with the analysis results, this paper proposed the approach to improve the system.