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230,000 South Korean Self-Employed Pay Higher Health Insurance Despite Lower Income

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. [...]

Gov’t to Temporarily Raise Health Insurance Payments to Hospitals for Chuseok Holiday

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 [...]

South Korean Same-Sex Couples Find Hope in Landmark Court Ruling

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 [...]

Foreigners Must Stay in S. Korea for 6 Months to Be Eligible for State Health Insurance as Dependents

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 [...]

Korea’s Caregiving Crisis: A Call for Health Insurance Coverage as Families Struggle with Soaring Costs

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, [...]

South Korea to Introduce 6-Month Stay Requirement for Health Insurance Dependent Status for Foreigners

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 [...]

Digital Therapeutics May Soon Be Covered by Health Insurance

SEOUL, July 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Digital therapeutics (DTx), used to treat insomnia and depression through smartphone applications, may soon be covered by health insurance. According to industry sources, the enactment bill for DTx health insurance guidelines recently passed the sub-committee of the health insurance policy deliberation committee under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. [...]

Gov’t Cracks Down on Health Insurance Fraud

SEOUL, March 1 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare has indicated significant changes to the country’s health insurance payment standards in a bid to improve financial stability and prevent fraud. The measures were revealed during the 3rd Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee on Tuesday, with the vice minister stating that the aim [...]

Rights Watchdog Urges Insurance Firms to Stop Discriminating Against People Suffering from Mental Illnesses

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 [...]

Same Sex Couple Loses Suit Against State Health Insurer over Spousal Coverage

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A Seoul court on Friday ruled against a same sex couple demanding the same spousal health insurance coverage as heterosexual couples, saying matrimony in South Korea is still considered a union between a man and a woman. In February of last year, So Seong-wook filed the administrative lawsuit against [...]