Financial risk protection of National Health Insurance in the Republic of Korea:1995-2007

Overview

Universal coverage is an essential and accepted objective for most  countries.  It enshrines the key  elements of how health systems can contribute to the betterment  of health in general,  while ensuring that peoplecenteredness  remains at  their core. It  is defined  as  access  to key  promotive, preventive, curative  and rehabilitative health interventions,  while guarantying adequate protection  against financial risks(World Health Organization, 2005). Universal coverage has three dimensions: population  coverage, service  coverage and cost coverage. 

This report is part of a series, The World Health Report 2010 Background Papers, which were written to inform the process of developing the key messages of the World Health Report 2010: Health systems financing: The path to universal coverage.