"Offering the Joy of Chewing"... Sunchang-gun Nationwide First to Support Implants

Leading the Military Welfare Project After Two Years of Tug-of-War with the Ministry of Health and Welfare

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Geon-ju] Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk, is receiving great response from residents for the elderly implant support project, which is the first of its kind nationwide.

According to the county on the 17th, this project was led as a welfare project exclusively for county residents after two years of tug-of-war with the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Eligibility requires residents to have lived in the county for more than one year and be aged 65 or older with a monthly health insurance premium payment amount within 120% of the median income standard.

Selected applicants can choose one of six local dental clinics contracted with the county according to their preference, receive treatment, and then get support for the implant procedure cost based on the doctor's prescription.

Currently, the government supports up to 70% of the out-of-pocket cost for up to two implants per person for seniors aged 65 or older enrolled in health insurance.

In addition, the county provides further support by covering up to 50% of the out-of-pocket cost for two implants not covered by health insurance through the elderly implant support project to offer practical help to residents.

Most of the beneficiaries of this project have shown high satisfaction in terms of quality of life, as implant treatment has strengthened their food intake function and improved internal organ health.

Since the project was introduced for the first time this year, the number of applicants has far exceeded the county’s initial expectations, increasing the waiting list for application support.

The nature of implant treatment, which takes a long period of 5 to 7 months, also prolongs the waiting time for applicants.

Jung Young-gon, director of the county health care center, stated, “Since healthy teeth are essential for longevity without illness, we will do our best to establish an oral health management system for residents and focus on oral health care and prevention.”

For more details, please contact the health branch offices in each eup/myeon or the regional health department of the health care center.

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