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The Impact of Expanded National Health Insurance Coverage of Dentures and Dental Implants on Dental Care Utilization among Older Adults in South Korea: A Study Based on the Korean Health Panel Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Jin-Sun Choi

    (Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University & Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung-si 25457, Korea)

  • Se-Hwan Jung

    (Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University & Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung-si 25457, Korea)

Abstract

In South Korea, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) began its coverage of dentures and dental implants for older people in 2012 and 2014, respectively. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these policies on dental care utilization among people aged 65 years or older according to their sociodemographic characteristics. Data were collected from the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP; years 2012 and 2015). The statistical significance of the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and the use of outpatient dental care, denture, and dental implant were analyzed. Results showed an increase of 5.7%, 1.4%, and 2.8% in the use of outpatient dental care, denture, and dental implant, respectively, over the course of three years. Including dentures increased its use by 2.5–3.7 times among people aged 70 years or older. Including dental implants alleviated the disparities among older adults based on age groups and duration of education, except those among uneducated people; however, it caused inequity according to household income. Some Korean older adults remain neglected from the benefits of the expanded NHIS. Therefore, older adults’ access to dental care should be enhanced by the implementation of policies to promote oral health care utilization, dental prosthetic services, and older adults’ insurance coverage.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin-Sun Choi & Se-Hwan Jung, 2020. "The Impact of Expanded National Health Insurance Coverage of Dentures and Dental Implants on Dental Care Utilization among Older Adults in South Korea: A Study Based on the Korean Health Panel Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:17:p:6417-:d:408404
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nam-Hee Kim & Se-Hwan Jung & Ichiro Kawachi, 2021. "Did Expanded Dental Insurance Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenditures on Dental Care among Older Adults in Korea? Interrupted Time-Series Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Han-A Cho & Bo-Ra Kim & Hosung Shin, 2022. "Travel Time for Dental Care Services Based on Patient Preference in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Hosung Shin & Han-A Cho & Bo-Ra Kim, 2021. "Dental Expenditure by Household Income in Korea over the Period 2008–2017: A Review of the National Dental Insurance Reform," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    4. Lee, Hwa-Young & Kim, Nam-Hee & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2022. "Did expansion of insurance coverage for major diseases in Korea induce a positive spillover effect on dental service utilization?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    5. Hwa-Young Lee & Eun-Young Bae & Kyungdo Lee & Minah Kang & Juhwan Oh, 2021. "Public Preferences in Resource Allocation for Insurance Coverage of Dental Implant Service in South Korea: Citizens’ Jury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.

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