Public Hearing on Health Insurance Coverage to Reduce Caregiving Burden

- Policy direction to be finalized by December through stakeholder feedback and expert consultation -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong) held a public hearing on “Innovation through Medically Focused Long-Term Care Hospitals and Health Insurance Coverage for Caregiving Services” on Monday, September 22, at 2:00 p.m. in the Royal Ballroom of the Royal Hotel Seoul.

The hearing was organized to share the draft policy direction for the Innovation through Medically Focused Long-Term Care Hospitals and Health Insurance Coverage for Caregiving Services initiative* with key stakeholders—long-term care hospitals and patient groups—and to gather feedback from the field before finalizing the policy direction.

   * Part of the “Caregiving Cost Relief” initiative under National Agenda No. 86, “Reducing the Burden of Medical Expenses.”

The event began with opening remarks by Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong, followed by a presentation by Lee Jung-kyu, Director General of Health Insurance Policy, on the draft policy direction. Panel discussions and a Q&A session followed, with participation from the Korean Convalescent Hospital Association, the Korean Hospital Association, the Korea Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, academic experts, and the media.

Panelists held in-depth discussions on the appropriateness of the criteria for designating medically focused long-term care hospitals; measures for facilities not receiving such designation; caregiving costs and out-of-pocket expenses as experienced by the public; the need to develop measures for securing and managing caregiving personnel; and ways to promote home-based care for so-called “social admissions” (patients hospitalized for social reasons) while strengthening links with integrated medical and long-term care services.

The MOHW will present the draft policy direction to the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee on Thursday, September 25. An expert advisory group of academics and field representatives will then develop detailed measures. The final policy will be reviewed by the committee and announced in December. The ministry also plans to continue gathering input from stakeholders beyond this public hearing.

Under this policy, medically focused long-term care hospitals will be designated in the first half of 2026. Beginning in the second half of 2026, caregiving services will be covered by health insurance for patients with high medical needs admitted to these hospitals.

Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong stated, “This public hearing will serve as a valuable foundation for advancing the Innovation through Medically Focused Long-Term Care Hospitals and Health Insurance Coverage for Caregiving Services initiative as a field-driven policy that delivers tangible benefits to the public. Building on today’s discussions, we will continue to listen closely to the voices of patients, families, and the medical community, and take greater state responsibility for easing the burden of caregiving. Our goal is to ensure that patients and families can access high-quality care services in long-term care hospitals with confidence.” 

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