[Q&A] Home Treatment Cost Support Ends Tomorrow... If Confirmed Today, Can You Receive Support?

Effective from the 11th for those notified of quarantine or hospitalization

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] From the 11th, support for home treatment costs for COVID-19 confirmed cases will end. On the 24th, the government announced, "Considering recent changes in quarantine situations and financial conditions comprehensively, we will partially adjust the support plan," adding, "The purpose is to enhance sustainability and efficiency, such as securing financial capacity in preparation for a resurgence in the second half of the year." Accordingly, COVID-19 confirmed patients will have to pay out-of-pocket expenses when receiving outpatient or non-face-to-face treatment. The scope of quarantine living support payments and paid leave support for self-isolated individuals will be reduced.

Will treatment costs end from the 11th for those isolated on July 10th as well?

No. The financial support restructuring plan, including home treatment costs, applies to those notified of isolation or hospitalization from the 11th onward. Those notified of isolation on the 10th can receive support during their 7-day isolation period.

How much will the home treatment costs that must be borne in the future be?

From the 11th, COVID-19 confirmed patients must pay for outpatient and non-face-to-face medical fees and medication costs during home treatment. According to the National Health Insurance Service, the average out-of-pocket home treatment cost per COVID-19 patient in the first quarter of this year was about 13,000 KRW at clinics and 6,000 KRW at pharmacies. Until now, treatment and prescriptions were provided free of charge through government support, but now out-of-pocket expenses will arise. The cost of professional rapid antigen tests (RAT) will remain at about 5,000 KRW as before. The government will continue to support relatively high-cost oral therapeutics, injections, and hospitalization treatment costs.

Who will receive the quarantine living support payment?

Going forward, only households with income at or below 100% of the median income based on health insurance premiums will receive quarantine living support payments. Currently, all confirmed cases receive a fixed payment of 100,000 KRW per person and 150,000 KRW for households of two or more, regardless of income. According to the 2022 median income calculation insurance premium income criteria, monthly income must be 3.26 million KRW or less for a two-person household, 4.195 million KRW or less for a three-person household, and 5.121 million KRW or less for a four-person household to qualify for the living support payment. For single-person households, 120% of the calculation insurance premium applies, with a monthly income criterion of 2.234 million KRW. Based on the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, it is estimated that about half of the entire population will be eligible.

How will the scope of paid leave support be reduced?

Paid leave support, which was provided to all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that offered paid leave to workers isolated or hospitalized due to COVID-19, will now only be supported for companies with fewer than 30 employees. The support amount and period remain unchanged at up to 45,000 KRW per day for a maximum of 5 days. About 75.3% of all SME workers are employed at SMEs with fewer than 30 employees, which are eligible for this paid leave support.

Will the current restructuring plan be maintained even in the event of a COVID-19 resurgence?

The quarantine authorities' position is that the provision of financial support may be reconsidered depending on the quarantine situation. Just as the concept of home treatment and treatment cost support, which did not exist before, were newly introduced, treatment costs and other support may be reinstated. A Disease Control Agency official stated that changes may occur depending on policy decisions by various ministries, including the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the Central Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

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