(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — The state rights watchdog on Wednesday ruled that it is discriminatory for insurance companies to deny people who take antidepressants while receiving psychotherapy treatments from subscribing to indemnity health insurance plans.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) announced that it recommended that the CEOs of two local insurance companies revise their insurance subscription standards not to unilaterally deny nor exclude depression patients from indemnity health insurance plans, while asking them to reevaluate the complaint a petitioner filed against them.
The petitioner presented the petition to the watchdog in October 2020 after being denied indemnity health insurance plans during consultations with the two insurance companies. During consultations, the petitioner informed them that he was taking antidepressants.
The NHRCK ruled that in a situation where people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are allowed to subscribe to indemnity health insurance plans, it’s not reasonable for insurance companies to deny those with mental illnesses, including depression.
In addition, the NHRCK pointed out that the insurance companies’ existing insurance subscription standards have a dilemma in which the people who actively take psychotherapy treatments are denied indemnity health insurance plans, while others who do not take or stop taking such treatments despite having a mental illness are allowed.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
