Medical outlays averaged 800,000 won in 2008: report

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans on average spent 800,000 won (US$678) on
medical related outlays in 2008, a report by a state-run health insurance
corporation said Wednesday.

National Health Insurance Corp. said the figure represents sums paid by
individuals and excludes medical support and health insurance coverage provided
by local governments and businesses.
It said medical outlays reached a high of 1.4 million won in Buan, 280 kilometers
south of Seoul, with a large population of senior citizens, and fell to a low of
530,000 won for Dalseong Ward in Daegu, 302 km southeast of the capital city.
The latest findings also said that 45.5 million people, or 91 percent of the
country's population, visited hospitals or clinics at least once last year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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