If Diagnosed with Mental Illness Within 5 Years, Treatment Possible Without Out-of-Pocket Expenses

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] If it has been less than five years since being diagnosed with a mental illness, patients will be able to receive treatment for mental illness without any National Health Insurance copayment.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 30th that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the "Act on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Welfare Services for Mental Patients (Mental Health Welfare Act)" containing this provision was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the same day.

This amendment was prepared to specify the subjects and details related to early treatment cost support for mental patients and to clarify that the costs of emergency hospitalization are supported by the state or local governments.

Currently, the government operates a mental illness treatment cost support project that covers treatment costs for administrative hospitalization ordered by local governments for patients at high risk of self-harm or harm to others, emergency hospitalization conducted with police consent, and outpatient treatment support ordered by local government heads for timely treatment. In addition, support will be provided for early treatment costs within five years of diagnosis to promote early intervention and continuous treatment of mental illness.

Once this enforcement decree is implemented, individuals diagnosed by a doctor as having mental health issues and whose income is below the standard announced by the Minister of Health and Welfare will be eligible for early treatment cost support. From the date a doctor diagnoses mental health problems, National Health Insurance copayments will be supported for up to five years, and for recipients of basic livelihood security benefits and others, non-covered treatment costs such as psychological test fees, non-covered medication and dispensing fees, and non-covered examination fees will also be supported.

In the case of emergency hospitalization, National Health Insurance copayments will also be supported. Likewise, for recipients of basic livelihood security benefits and others, non-covered treatment costs will be supported. If the address of the person who was emergency hospitalized is unclear, the head of the local government where the person was found will bear the costs.

This enforcement decree will take effect on the 9th of next month.

Jeong Eun-young, Mental Health Policy Officer at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "The legal basis for supporting intensive and continuous treatment for patients with early-stage mental illness has been clearly established in the law," adding, "We expect this to help manage acute phase risks of mental illness and prevent chronic conditions."