During Chuseok Holiday, 30% Higher Medical Fees at Local Clinics and Pharmacies

Patient Consultation Fee Out-of-Pocket Increase by About 1600 Won
Hospitals Apply Temporary 50% Increase on Health Insurance Rates

During the Chuseok holiday period, an average of about 8,000 clinics and hospitals nationwide open each day. Patients visiting hospitals during this period must pay an additional 30% of the medical fees as out-of-pocket expenses.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, an average of 7,931 on-duty clinics and hospitals nationwide are expected to open daily during this Chuseok holiday, which continues until the 18th. This number is more than twice the average of 3,643 on-duty clinics and hospitals during the last Lunar New Year holiday.

The 'Saturday, Nighttime, and Holiday Medical Fee Surcharge System' applies to these open clinics and hospitals. Accordingly, medical institutions can charge patients an additional 30% on the basic consultation fee, and in emergency situations involving anesthesia, treatment, or surgery, they can add 50% to the anesthesia fee, treatment fee, and surgery fee.

For example, if a patient receives treatment at a local clinic on a weekday, they pay 5,283 KRW as their 30% share of the initial consultation fee (17,610 KRW). However, during the holiday period, they must pay 6,868 KRW as their share of the initial consultation fee increased by 30% (22,893 KRW). If additional tests or treatments are performed during the consultation, the surcharge increases, thus raising the patient's burden.

Pharmacies open during the holiday period can also charge an additional 30% on the basic dispensing fee, dispensing fee, and medication guidance fee.

Separately from the patient’s burden, considering the emergency medical system situation due to collective resignation of residents, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has decided to temporarily provide additional compensation by supporting the health insurance fees (medical service fees) for clinics and hospitals open during this holiday. This is a measure to increase the number of available medical institutions.

Consultation fees at clinics and hospitals and dispensing fees at pharmacies have traditionally applied a 30% surcharge rate for holidays, but only during this year’s Chuseok holiday, this surcharge rate will be temporarily raised to about 50%. Clinics and hospitals will receive a fixed increase of 3,000 KRW per consultation, and pharmacies will receive 1,000 KRW.

Additionally, Seoul City provides 300,000 KRW to hospitals open for 4 hours a day, and 500,000 KRW to those open for 8 hours. An additional 500,000 KRW is provided if they operate until 10 PM, allowing a maximum of 1,000,000 KRW per day. If they operate at night for the three days of the holiday, they can receive 3,000,000 KRW in total support.

Information on local clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies open during the holiday can be found on the Emergency Medical Portal (e-gen) or the National Health Insurance Service website. Medical institutions available for treatment can also be found through the 'Holiday Treatment' and 'Emergency Treatment' tabs on Naver and Kakao map applications.