"COVID-19 Tests That Were Free Now Cost 30,000 Won"…How to Save on Fees? [Chosun Price Records]

(30) COVID-19 Test, Medical Fees, and Medication Costs
"Need a Diagnosis Certificate for Company Submission... It's Too Expensive"

As the summer surge of COVID-19 intensifies, the cost of medical treatment, including COVID-19 testing, has exceeded 30,000 won, increasing the financial burden on patients. The price of medication has also risen significantly; cold medicine prescribed to general COVID-19 patients has increased by more than 5% compared to the same quarter last year.

On the afternoon of the 16th, when the COVID-19 outbreak was spreading, a notice saying "COVID test kits available" was posted at a pharmacy in downtown Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

'COVID-19 Test Fee' Free → 5,000 won → Currently 20,000 to 30,000 won

On the 25th, inquiries about COVID-19 test fees at five hospitals in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, revealed prices ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 won. Most test fees were 20,000 won, while hospitals conducting combined flu and COVID-19 tests charged 30,000 won. COVID-19 testing was free when it was designated a first-class infectious disease, and when it was a second-class infectious disease, rapid antigen tests (RAT) could be taken for a medical fee of 5,000 won. Currently, the cost is non-reimbursable and must be borne by the patient.

As a result, patients are feeling an increased financial burden. With the COVID-19 crisis level downgraded to "interest" as of May 1 this year, treatment support has been discontinued, and the living support payments and paid leave costs for hospitalized or isolated COVID-19 patients during the pandemic are no longer provided.

Patient A, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, said, "I thought I had COVID-19, so I went to the hospital and needed a COVID diagnosis certificate for my company." He added, "The test fee was 30,000 won, and the consultation fee and medication cost (for general, non-oral antiviral treatment) were about 5,000 won each." A expressed, "This is my second positive test, and since I paid only 5,000 won for the test the first time, it feels expensive now."

Patients with a higher risk of severe progression must pay more for medication. Oral COVID-19 treatments such as Paxlovid and Lagevrio are prescribed based on criteria or physician judgment, with a patient co-payment of 50,000 won. Pharmacist Kim, who runs a pharmacy in Hanam, Gyeonggi-do, explained, "Before the endemic phase, oral COVID treatments were free, but as the risk level decreased, a 50,000 won co-payment was added to the medication cost." He added, "Besides the oral treatments, other cold medicines are also prescribed, so from the patient's perspective, it means paying 50,000 won more than before."

The significant rise in pharmaceutical prices this year is also contributing to the burden. According to the National Statistical Portal of Statistics Korea, the pharmaceutical price index in the second quarter of this year was 104.67, up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. The increase is steeper for cold medicines and painkillers used by general COVID-19 patients. Cold medicine prices rose 5.5% year-on-year in the second quarter, and painkillers increased by 3.6%. Both exceed the consumer price inflation rate (2.7% in the second quarter).

How to Save on COVID-19 Testing Costs?

If you suspect a COVID-19 infection and plan to visit a hospital but do not need a COVID-19 diagnosis certificate for work or other purposes, you can save on testing fees by using a self-test kit to confirm positivity. A nurse working in Seoul said, "If the self-test kit shows positive for COVID-19, you can receive treatment without additional testing." She added, "If you have health insurance coverage, the consultation fee is about 5,000 won."

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 spread is expected to peak around the end of this month. The government predicts that, based on the analysis of summer trends over the past two years, about 350,000 COVID-19 patients will occur weekly by the end of August. However, health authorities are not expected to raise the COVID-19 crisis level from the current "interest" stage or upgrade the infectious disease classification from level 4. They plan to monitor patient trends and prepare response measures for the Chuseok holiday period.