Government to Provide Medical Expense Support for Victims, Families, and Rescuers of Itaewon Disaster

Registered in the National Disaster Safety Management System until the 8th

Citizens visiting the joint memorial altar at Seoul Plaza on the 4th, during the national mourning period following the Itaewon tragedy, are paying tribute to the victims. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government will support medical expenses for the victims of the Itaewon crowd crush disaster, their families, and those involved in rescue activities.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 4th that it will provide medical expense support so that those requiring treatment due to the disaster can focus on their recovery. The support will be provided by the National Health Insurance Service initially paying the medical institutions on behalf of the patients, with subsequent reimbursement through national and local government funds.

The recipients of medical expense support include victims and rescue workers who were present at the scene of the accident and require medical treatment, as well as the families of the deceased and injured. Presence at the scene is defined as being in the alley next to the Hamilton Hotel and its vicinity between 6 p.m. on the 29th of last month and 6 a.m. on the 30th. The scope of victims' families includes spouses, direct ascendants and descendants, and siblings.

Support recipients will receive coverage for both insured and uninsured medical treatment costs, including co-payments and medication fees, related to physical and mental illnesses and aftereffects directly linked to the Itaewon disaster. The medical staff will determine the relevance of the illness to the disaster.

Medical expenses will be supported for the duration of medically necessary treatment, but initially, support will be provided for six months until April 28 of next year, after which continuation will be decided based on medical review.

Those registered in the National Disaster Safety Management System by the 8th will be managed by the government to ensure no out-of-pocket expenses occur in advance. Victims who used emergency rooms or received support from the Central Disaster Headquarters’ dedicated personnel through 119 transport are already registered in this system.

The government plans to individually inform eligible recipients about the support procedures. Those injured in the Itaewon disaster who have not received guidance should contact their nearest city, county, or district office.

For those currently undergoing treatment or using outpatient services after discharge and who have not yet paid medical expenses, submitting a 'Medical Expense Advance Payment Application' to the medical institution will allow treatment without paying co-payments or other costs upfront.

For those who have already paid medical expenses, submitting a 'Medical Expense Payment Application' to the National Health Insurance Service will verify eligibility and provide support by depositing funds directly into the applicant’s account.

Support recipients not registered in the National Disaster Safety Management System by the 8th will find it difficult for medical institutions to verify eligibility, so they should first pay medical expenses and then submit related documents and applications to the National Health Insurance Service for reimbursement to their accounts. Required documents include the Medical Expense Payment Application, a doctor’s opinion confirming direct relevance to the disaster, and proof of presence at the scene during the accident.

If it is later determined that the patient is not eligible for support or that the illness and aftereffects are not directly related to the disaster, the government may reclaim the supported medical expenses.

The Medical Expense Advance Payment Application and Medical Expense Payment Application can be found on the National Health Insurance Service website. For inquiries related to application submission, contact the National Health Insurance Service Situation Response Team Counseling Center or the Health and Welfare Counseling Center.

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