Health ministry launches seventh Long-Term Care Committee for 2027 talks

The health ministry on Friday launched the seventh Long-Term Care Committee, convening its third meeting of 2026 to discuss 2027 long-term care insurance rates, financial management and service quality.

The committee is chaired by First Vice Health Minister Hyeon Su-yeop and will serve from July 2026 through July 2029. It has between 16 and 22 members, including a deputy chair.

At the end of 2025, the insurance fund recorded income of 13.7 trillion won ($9.66 billion), against spending of 13.4 trillion won ($9.49 billion). Members reviewed the fund's financial conditions and other considerations for 2027, and exchanged views on the timetable for further discussions.

"At this meeting, together with the newly appointed members, we discussed directions for fee revisions, including financial management to ensure the system's sustainability, stronger coverage for recipients and improved treatment for workers," Hyeon said.

Under the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, the committee annually deliberates long-term care insurance rates and premium rates. Its remit also includes payment standards for family-care, special long-term-care and nursing-hospital caregiving benefits, as well as costs for home- and facility-based benefits.

"Going forward, we will continue to improve the quality of long-term care services that people can feel in the field, while balancing the public burden with the insurance fund's financial conditions," Hyeon added.

Final decisions on the 2027 rates and premium rate are expected after October, following deliberations by the long-term care working-level committee and the full committee.