Ministry of Health and Welfare Provides Emergency Support to Residents in Donghaean Wildfire 'Special Disaster Area'

Establishing a Disaster Medical Support System
Reducing Health Insurance Premiums and Providing Medical Expense Assistance

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 7th that, following the declaration of Gyeongbuk Uljin-gun and Gangwon Samcheok-si as 'special disaster areas' on the 6th due to wildfires along the East Coast, it will reduce health insurance premiums and provide medical expense support for residents in these areas.

Health insurance premium support is provided after the Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducts damage assessments and selects individuals who have suffered personal and property damage. The National Health Insurance Service then reduces premiums based on the disaster level and extent of property damage. Households of regional subscribers residing in areas declared as special disaster zones (those listed in the disaster portal damage registry) will receive a premium reduction for three months within 50% of the premium amount (six months if both personal and property damage occurred), and late fees will not be collected for up to six months.

Additionally, upon application by affected residents, exceptions to National Pension premium payments will be applied for up to one year, and late fees will not be collected for up to six months.

If affected residents meet the criteria for medical aid for disaster victims, their copayments for hospital and pharmacy use will be waived or reduced retroactively for three months from the date of the disaster. Copayments are waived for hospitalization, 1,000 to 2,000 KRW for outpatient visits, and 500 KRW for pharmacy use.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will identify and provide emergency support to disaster victims experiencing difficulties in livelihood and housing due to wildfire damage. Households that find it difficult to live in their homes or buildings or face livelihood challenges due to the wildfire and meet income and property criteria will qualify for emergency support. The income criterion is 75% of the median income (3.84 million KRW for a four-person household), general property limits are 241 million KRW in metropolitan areas, 152 million KRW in small and medium cities, and 130 million KRW in rural areas. Financial assets must be 6 million KRW or less (8 million KRW for housing support). Residents not eligible for emergency support will be connected with the Community Chest of Korea to receive necessary assistance.

In addition, psychological support will be provided through regional trauma centers in collaboration with metropolitan and basic mental health welfare centers. The 'Mind Relief Bus' will operate at temporary residential facilities, offering disaster victims a space to rest, and mental health professionals will provide counseling to help stabilize their mental well-being.

Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol stated, "We will continue to gather feedback from the disaster sites and do our best to ensure that residents affected by the Gyeongbuk-Gangwon wildfires do not experience inconvenience through prompt measures."

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