Influence of the Introduction of a Per-Visit Copayment on Health Care Use and Expenditures: The Korean Experience

This article analyzes the effect of implementing a per-visit copayment for medical services in Korea. The introduction of the per-visit copayment was effective in changing the pattern for medical utilization and containing medical cost inflation. The most remarkable change after implementation of the copayment was a reduction in medical and dental contacts and a rise in service intensity for each visit. The increased intensity per visit might be caused by the change in physician behavior or patients' delay in initiating medical visits, or both, which in turn could increase medical expenditure.