Health ministry moves to cut rare-disease copayments to 7 percent

The health ministry said Wednesday it will lower the health insurance copayment rate for patients with rare and severe intractable diseases from 10 percent to 7 percent.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare published the proposed revision to the enforcement decree of the National Health Insurance Act for public comment from Nov. 4 through Nov. 16. Under the plan, patients registered under the special copayment program would pay about 530,000 won ($395) a year on average, down from about 750,000 won ($559).

Rare and severe intractable diseases are difficult to cure and require long treatment, so costs accumulate for patients and their families. The government has applied the special copayment program to these patients, but their 10 percent rate is higher than the 5 percent set for other severe conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The proposed cut covers only insured services. Uninsured treatments and the 50 percent copayment on meals during hospital stays would stay at current levels.

The revision implements the first phase of a phased reduction the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee approved in September, which calls for lowering the rate from 10 percent to 7 percent and eventually to 5 percent. The government plans to cut the rate to 5 percent in the first half of 2028.

The rule would take effect for treatment provided on or after Dec. 1. The ministry plans to collect public opinion during the comment period, then complete review by the Ministry of Government Legislation and a Cabinet vote before then.

"This revision is the first step toward lowering the burden on patients with rare and severe intractable diseases to the level of other serious illnesses," said Yoo Joo-heon, director of the ministry's health insurance policy bureau. "We will quickly finish the remaining procedures so that implementation on Dec. 1 proceeds without disruption."

Groups and individuals with comments on the proposal may submit them through the public participation portal or the ministry's insurance policy division by Nov. 16.