Universal health care coverage in Korea

In this paper, Gerard Anderson, a well-regarded policy analyst, looks at the Pacific rim, examining Korea's health care system. He shows how Korea achieved its goal of universal health insurance coverage, evaluates the impact on the business sector, and suggests lessons for the United States. In 1976, Korea adopted a policy that universal health coverage would be achieved by 1989. Since 1988, all Korean citizens have had health coverage, via private-sector initiatives, and medical insurance societies. Anderson finds similarities in the U.S. and Korean health care systems, including a fee-for-service structure and concern for rising health care costs. However, the main difference between the two countries is that Korea has eliminated financial barriers to health care. 'Korea has moved from insuring less than 10 percent of the people in 1976 to 100 percent coverage today, while during this same period, the U.S. percentage of covered citizens has declined from 86.4 to 82.9 percent'.