Gyeongju City Allocates 7.2 Billion Won to Support Vulnerable Groups, Vows "No One Should Give Up Treatment Due to Financial Hardship"

Toward a City Free from Medical Expense Worries... Over 21,000 Beneficiaries
Four Key Initiatives: Medical Benefits, Health Insurance Premiums, Emergency Welfare, and More

On October 15, the Gyeongju city government announced that it is actively implementing this year’s 'Medical Expense Support Program for Low-Income and Vulnerable Groups' to ensure that no citizens postpone hospital visits due to financial difficulties.

The city is allocating a total of 7.2072 billion won to provide medical expense support to more than 21,000 people.

Mayor Ju Nak-young of Gyeongju warmly greeting senior citizens and listening to voices from the welfare field. Provided by Gyeongju City

The program is divided into four categories: ▲ medical expense support for medical benefit recipients ▲ health insurance premium support for low-income households ▲ emergency welfare medical support ▲ collaborative projects between institutions.

First, the medical expense support for medical benefit recipients targets about 17,000 people. Type 1 recipients only pay 1,000 to 2,000 won for outpatient visits and 500 won at pharmacies, while Type 2 recipients pay 10% of hospitalization costs and 15% of outpatient costs.

The health insurance premium support for low-income households targets about 2,800 households.

Households with insurance premiums at or below the minimum premium (22,340 won) set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare are eligible. For the elderly, people with disabilities, single-parent families, national merit recipients, and those with rare or chronic diseases, the city pays annual insurance premiums ranging from 250,000 to 450,000 won per person on their behalf.

The support funds are provided through the National Health Insurance Service.

The emergency welfare medical support program provides up to 3 million won in medical expenses to citizens with incomes at or below 75% of the median, who are struggling to pay for sudden illness.

The budget is comprised of 80% national funds, 10% provincial funds, and 10% city funds, supporting about 300 households per year.

Gyeongju is also cooperating with external organizations such as the National Health Insurance Service and the Community Chest of Korea to help low-income citizens who face significant hospital bills.

Through these collaborations, the city provides additional support for non-insured items and out-of-pocket expenses to those in the next-lowest income bracket and those eligible for catastrophic medical expense support.

Last year, about 12,500 people received a total of 5.951 billion won in medical expense support through this program, and in the first half of this year, 8,800 people received 4.316 billion won.

Gyeongju plans to strengthen efforts to identify those left out of the healthcare system due to lack of information or complicated procedures, through publicity at medical institutions, on-site consultations, and health surveys.

Joo Nak-young, mayor of Gyeongju, stated, "We will ensure that not a single citizen gives up treatment due to financial hardship," adding, "Town offices, medical institutions, and private organizations will work together to find and support every citizen in need."