Medical Aid Recipients Have More Than Twice the Mortality Rate from Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Assemblywoman Seomyeongok Reports 5.2% Increase in Mortality Among Low-Income Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients in One Year
Stroke Mortality Rate Also Over 1.5 Times Higher Than Health Insurance Patients

The mortality rate from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases among low-income medical aid recipients was found to be more than twice as high as that of patients covered by health insurance benefits.

According to data received on the 23rd by Seo Myeong-ok, a member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, from the National Health Insurance Service, 42,741 medical aid recipients were treated for acute myocardial infarction last year, and among them, 2,226 people, or 5.21%, had died by mid-October this year.

This mortality rate is more than twice as high as the 2.19% (2,934 deaths out of 134,046 patients) of patients covered by health insurance benefits.

Similarly, for cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke), the death rate among medical aid recipients who received treatment last year and died by this year was 5.65% (6,595 deaths out of 116,734 patients), which is more than 1.5 times higher than the 3.54% (18,219 deaths out of 514,551 patients) of patients covered by health insurance benefits.

Representative Seo pointed out that the higher mortality rate of these diseases among medical aid recipients is due to insufficient medical support for vulnerable groups.

He explained, "In the case of the special calculation system for severe diseases, for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, except for some cases such as congenital heart defects and heart transplants, the benefit period is applied for a maximum of 30 days," adding, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare takes a cautious stance on extending the period, reasoning that acute treatment for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is completed within 30 days and that medical expenses are largely incurred during this period."

Representative Seo emphasized, "Even if acute symptoms of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases disappear immediately, the risk of symptom deterioration remains, requiring continuous treatment," and stressed, "National support such as extending the special calculation period for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and providing treatment cost assistance for vulnerable groups is necessary."

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