Variations in Healthcare Spending, Care Access, and Health Status by Care Need: Evidence from South Korea

Abstract

T here are substantial variations in healthcare spending by care need. 1,2 However, higher healthcare spending does not necessarily lead to better care access and care quality. 3,4 Understanding the relationship between healthcare spending, care access, and health status across and within levels of care need could inform policy to improve the efficiency of care. This is particularly relevant to South Korea as healthcare spending has grown at nearly 8% each year, more than double the annual average of countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (3.6%). 5 In this study, we examined variations in healthcare spending, care access, and health status by care need among South Korean adults.