Moon vows to expand health insurance coverage to more diseases

W30 tril. required over next 5 years

By Choi Ha-young

President Moon Jae-in pledged Wednesday to expand the coverage of national health insurance to almost all diseases by 2022 to “free the people from concerns about medical expenses.”

“Currently, the national health insurance’s average coverage rate is 60 percent, well below the average 80 percent of OECD member countries,” Moon said during a visit to Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. “I will free people from concerns of medical expenses and help them have any disease treated without paying by the end of my term.”

Particularly, he touched on medical fees not covered by national health insurance, such as so-called “special medical services” at university-affiliated hospitals, wards for one or two patients and charges paid to caregivers.

“I will abolish the special medical treatment at some hospitals. The single- or double-bedroom wards, which were excluded from insurance, will be covered by the new system as well. Expenses to hire caregivers will also be covered, which will free family members from taking care of their loved ones.”

To support households on the verge of economic collapse while treating cancer or other incurable diseases, Moon said the government will largely cut down the maximum expenses for each patient. “The number of patients who will receive benefits for the measure will nearly triple, from 700,000 to 1.9 million.”

At the same time, the President said the administration will minimize increases in health insurance fees. He estimated 30.6 trillion won will be additionally required for five years to cover the increase.

“First, the government will use half of the cumulative surplus of 21 trillion won collected by national health insurance and use national finances to supplement the shortage.”

He also vowed to alleviate the financial burden on senior citizens suffering from dementia, in line with his election promise. “If the plan is adopted, each patient will have to pay only 1.5 million won for 160 days of hospital treatment, compared to 16 million won under the existing system.”