SEOUL, April 22, (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s per capita health insurance spending rose by 28% over the past decade, driven largely by higher treatment costs rather than more frequent medical visits, according to a report released Monday by the Korea Development Institute (KDI). The report, titled “Factors Behind Health Insurance Spending Growth and Policy [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — In a significant healthcare reform initiative, the South Korean government announced plans to reclassify certain non-critical and uninsured medical treatments, including manual therapy, under a new “managed care” category that will require patients to pay over 90% of the costs. The policy change, unveiled at a public forum on healthcare [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A new study has revealed that individuals who have previously filed claims for private medical insurance not only visit hospitals more frequently but also spend more on outpatient care compared to those who haven’t filed claims. According to research published in the recent issue of the Korean Journal of Hospital [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In response to growing demand for obesity medications, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance has launched health insurance products that cover high-cost obesity treatments, marking a significant development in the Korean health insurance market. These new plans offer coverage for GLP-1 class obesity medications, such as Wegovy and Saxenda, which [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent analysis of South Korea’s health insurance system has revealed a significant disparity affecting many self-employed individuals. According to data from the National Health Insurance Service, approximately 230,000 self-employed business owners are paying health insurance premiums based on their highest-paid employees’ salaries, even when their own incomes are lower. [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday the government will temporarily raise health insurance payments to hospitals for the upcoming Chuseok holiday to better reward their services and to prevent disruptions in emergency medical care. During a Cabinet meeting, Yoon addressed concerns over possible disruptions to the medical system during [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 24 (Korea Bizwire) – For Samsik (a pseudonym), a 34-year-old man who has been in a same-sex relationship for 11 years, the recent Supreme Court decision recognizing health insurance dependency status for same-sex couples brought tears of joy and a sense of long-awaited acknowledgment. “Even after loving someone for so long, it was always [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreigners and overseas Koreans can only become eligible for the state health insurance coverage as dependents if they reside in South Korea for at least six months, according to the health ministry Tuesday. The tightened rule, which goes into effect Wednesday, comes as some foreigners have reportedly exploited the [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – In July, a man in his 60s tragically ended the life of his wife, whom he had dedicated over three years to caring for in Seoul. The man had given up his job to provide support to his wife, who suffered from a rare disease. He explained to the police, [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – Starting next year, foreigners will be required to stay in South Korea for a minimum of six months to qualify for health insurance dependent status. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service on Thursday, a revision to the Health Insurance Act that introduces [...]