2021년 미충족의료율과 추이

Abstract

Unmet healthcare is an important indicator for measuring accessibility of healthcare services. We analyzed the following four datafrom a nationally representative sample of South Korean population: Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2007–2021), Community Health Survey (CHS, 2008–2021), Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2011–2019), and Korean Welfare Panel Study(KOWEPS, 2006–2021). The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs were 6.0% (KNHANES), 5.1% (CHS), and13.1% (KHP). Annual percentage change (APC) which identifies trend for the follow-up period was -9.4%, -9.4%, and -5.3%,respectively. The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs due to cost were 1.2% (KNAHANES), 0.5% (CHS), 2.7%(KHP), and 0.4% (KOWEPS). The APC was -10.4%, -16.1%, -11.5%, and -19.1%, respectively. Compared to the previous year, the rateof unmet healthcare needs decreased slightly, but the rate of unmet health care needs due to cost tended to increase. Overall, higherrates of unmet healthcare needs were reported in the low-income and the elderly population. Although it was confirmed through theAPC that the rate of unmet healthcare experience has decreased over the past decade, it can be seen that there is still a disparityby income level and age. These results suggest the need for an appropriate health benefit coverage policy for the low-income andthe elderly.