Health ministry plans nursing care insurance rollout by first half of next year

The health ministry said Tuesday it plans to begin applying a new nursing care benefit system in the first half of next year, covering nursing fees through national health insurance for patients with high medical and care needs.

Starting with medically focused long-term care hospitals, the proposal aims to reduce the out-of-pocket burden for families by lowering the co-payment rate from 100 percent to approximately 30 percent. The ministry intends to expand the program gradually, targeting support for 85,000 people by 2030, beginning in 2027.

Final details on the system will be confirmed by the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee later this year following discussions on criteria for selecting eligible hospitals and patients, securing nursing staff, and connecting discharged patients with community care services. These topics formed the core of the panel debate at the public forum held at the Royal Hotel Seoul, which included representatives from the Korean Long-term Care Hospital Association, the Korean Nurses Association, and patient advocacy groups.

Lee Hyung-hoon, the ministry's second vice minister, said the government would listen to opinions from medical staff, experts and the public to implement field-centered policies.

"The goal is to create long-term care hospitals where severely ill elderly patients can receive treatment with peace of mind while families feel confident entrusting their care," he said.