Active Duty Soldiers Receiving Treatment at Private Hospitals to Get Medical Fee Refunds

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[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]Active-duty soldiers, full-time reservists, and officer candidates will receive partial refunds on medical expenses when treated at private hospitals starting next month on the 1st.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 30th that it will implement the "Support Project for Medical Expenses at Private Hospitals for Soldiers, etc." from August 1 to reduce the financial burden of medical expenses for soldiers and others. The support targets active-duty soldiers, full-time reservists, and officer candidates (excluding Reserve Officer Training Corps candidates).

From August 1, this system will refund a portion of medical expenses (excluding non-reimbursable items) incurred at private hospitals after deducting the deductible amount, similar to indemnity insurance. When medical expenses exceed a certain amount at private hospitals (10,000 KRW for clinics and hospitals, 20,000 KRW for advanced and general hospitals), a minimum of 10,000 to 20,000 KRW or up to 20% of the out-of-pocket expenses will be deducted, and the remaining amount will be refunded.

If active-duty soldiers pay medical expenses upfront at private hospitals, the Ministry of National Defense will reimburse the support funds to their personal bank accounts starting November 25. The Ministry explained that since it takes time to collect related data, refunds will be made approximately 3 to 4 months after the treatment date.

To receive the refund, soldiers must consent to the use of personal information such as hospital usage records and resident registration numbers, which can be submitted via the Nara Sarang Portal.

The Ministry of National Defense stated, "This system is designed so that soldiers visiting private hospitals for severe illnesses, rather than minor conditions, do not feel burdened by medical expenses," and added, "By supporting medical expenses in the same way as indemnity insurance, all soldiers can enjoy the benefits of being effectively enrolled in indemnity insurance."

The Ministry plans to discuss with relevant organizations and build systems so that in the future, soldiers will only need to pay the reduced medical expenses at private hospitals at the time of treatment.