Doctors protest 'Moon Jae-in care'

By Kim Bo-eun

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) is stepping up its campaign against the Moon Jae-in administration’s plan to expand insurance coverage.

Dubbed “Moon Jae-in care,” the health care policy is aimed at providing insurance coverage for all medical fees with the exception of those for cosmetic purposes, as a means to ease the burden of medical expenses on the public.

Under the plan, insurance will cover costly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and sonograms as well as additional expenses for more experienced doctors and hospital rooms accommodating fewer patients.

Doctors oppose the policy for a number of reasons.

The doctors claim medical fees will fall, as insurance coverage will force doctors to provide services at lower costs. They say this will lead to an overall deterioration in the quality of medical treatment.

They also claim patients will more likely visit general hospitals rather than small local clinics, with their medical fees subsidized. This is because large hospitals are known to provide better-quality services, yet at higher costs.

The doctors’ group has vowed to hold a rally at Gwanghwamun Square next month, where 30,000 members will likely take part.

The group said it will seek support from 30,000 local clinics across the country. The KMA is also considering a strike by 130,000 doctors nationwide, if the government does not agree to negotiate.

“Moon Jae-in care” is one of the President’s key pledges put forth during his candidacy.

It is based on the fact Korea is among the OECD countries with the highest private per capita health expenditures, according to data for 2016.

Data shows the burden of high medical costs results in household bankruptcy for one in 20 individuals.

Doctors are also questioning the costs of the plan, as the government will need to secure a huge amount of insurance funds.

The Moon administration said the plan will require 30 trillion won in funds. The National Health Insurance Service currently holds surplus funds of 20 trillion won, which will be available for use.

The government has also pledged to contribute 7 trillion won of state subsidies yearly, in order to minimize the additional health insurance costs for the public. It said it would raise the national insurance rate by 3.2 percent each year.

But there are concerns health insurance funds will be depleted by 2025, due to the aging society.