Foreign workers to bear more medical costs

By KH디지털2

Published : July 6, 2016 - 10:15

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Foreign workers will have to pay for 20 percent of their hospital treatment fees starting next year due to a change in regulations, health ministry officials said Wednesday.

Foreign workers are currently given free medical care at public hospitals on bills up to 10 million won ($8,628) to treat illnesses they are diagnosed with while in Korea. The government pays for 80 percent of the amount in excess of 10 million won, and the workers 20 percent.

The support system was introduced in 2005 to help workers from overseas who had no health insurance benefits available to Koreans through state or company medical programs. The health ministry estimates that it spent an annual 3 billion won on the support system.

Foreign workers and multicultural family members get free medical checkups at the Seocho Ward Office in Seoul on June 19, 2016. (Yonhap)

Some policymakers, however, have argued that this system was unfair to local citizens who foot 30 percent of their hospital fees.

With regulation changes, foreign workers must pay for 20 percent of their total medical bills, and the government the remaining 80 percent. The cost-sharing will apply to medical bills of 5 million won or under, but exceptions can be made pending on recommendations from physicians, officials said. (Yonhap)

Foreign workers to bear more medical costs

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