Reduction of Medical Expenses for Intractable Diseases During Military Service

The Army began mine clearance operations on the 2nd near the search route area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) close to the 5th Division (Key Unit) in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, to excavate the remains of soldiers who died in the Korean War. Soldiers are conducting mine detection and removal operations. Photo by the Cheorwon Joint Press Corps.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu]From now on, if a severe or intractable disease occurs during military service, medical expenses will be discounted at Veterans Commission entrusted hospitals nationwide.Until now, medical expenses were only discounted at six hospitals nationwide, including the Central Veterans Hospital.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that following the approval and promulgation of the amendment to the "Act on Support for Veterans" at the Cabinet meeting, patients with severe or intractable diseases that developed during military service will be able to receive discounted medical fees at 319 Veterans Commission entrusted hospitals nationwide, providing convenience to civil petitioners.

According to the amendment, for severe or intractable diseases (239 types) that developed during military service, medical expense discounts were previously limited to six hospitals nationwide, including the Central Veterans Hospital, but the amendment expands this to 319 entrusted hospitals. Severe or intractable diseases include cancer, aplastic anemia, heart disease, organ transplantation, chronic renal failure, mental illness (subject to military service exemption), Parkinson's disease, and others. Even those who developed the disease while serving as active-duty soldiers but could not establish a direct causal relationship with official duties, and thus were not eligible as national merit recipients or veterans compensation beneficiaries, will now receive benefits.

Additionally, active-duty soldiers injured while performing duties or training will be able to apply for national merit status starting six months before discharge. Amendments to the "Act on the Treatment and Support of Persons of Distinguished Service to the State" and the "Act on Support for Veterans Compensation Recipients" have been promulgated.

According to the amendment, military personnel, police officers, and firefighters injured during official duties or training can apply for national merit status starting six months before discharge or retirement. Previously, applications for national merit registration could only be made after discharge or retirement due to injury.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs expects that allowing applications for national merit status before discharge will advance the timing of receiving veterans benefits. The right to compensation arises from the month following the day after the discharge or retirement date. The law will take effect six months after promulgation, starting September 25 of this year.

Furthermore, on the same day, with the promulgation of the amendment to the "Act on the Treatment of War Veterans and the Establishment of Associations," the list of battles of the Korean War was expanded to include the operational areas of the 1st, 3rd, and 8th Guard Battalions of the Southern District. The 1st, 3rd, and 8th Guard Battalions of the Southern District were organized together with the Southwest District Combat Police under the Southern District Guard Command and were deployed in anti-communist operations from May 26, 1954, to March 31, 1955. Previously, only the battles of the Southwest District Combat Police were recognized as battles of the Korean War under the Southern District Guard Command.

The law takes effect immediately upon promulgation. Veterans who participated in the relevant battles can apply for registration as war veterans at the local veterans office with jurisdiction over their place of residence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.