Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced a plan to expand home medical care service program for patients receiving Medical Aid nationwide, starting from July 2024.
In 2019, the home medical care service program for Medical Aid beneficiaries was piloted in 13 areas. According to a Ministry of Health Welfare Announcement, it will expand to a full-scale program in July 2024, covering all 229 local areas nationwide.
The program provides necessary services such as medical care, care services, and meals to Medical Aid beneficiaries who are ‘discharged after long-term hospitalization’ to support smooth settlement in the community.
The eligibility criteria have also been expanded from patients who are hospitalized for one month or more but have low medical needs for discharge to patients who are repeatedly admitted and discharged.
Once a care plan is established through a needs assessment, essential services such as medical care, care services, meals, and transportation support, as well as optional services such as improving the living environment, welfare supplies, and heating and cooling products, can be provided according to the plan even after discharge.
To this end, the limit on the amount of service support per person has also been increased by 20%, from KRW 600,000 (USD 430) to KRW 720,000 (USD 516) per month.
