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This year, the number of foreign health insurance subscribers is decreasing, but the number of ‘subscribers’ linked to subscribers is increasing. This is due to an increasing number of cases in which family members from abroad are invited to register as dependents to enjoy the benefits of Korean health insurance. Dependents receive health insurance benefits, but do not pay premiums. In some cases, a foreign health insurance subscriber registered up to 9 dependents.
There is also concern that so-called “ healthy health ” could increase as foreigners return to their home country after seeing only medical benefits, while the possibility of an increase in irregular supply and demand arises. as the cause of this phenomenon.
◆ For foreigners who have registered 9 dependents, including parents and children
According to the ‘Key statistics on health insurance for the first half of 2020’ of the National Health Insurance Corporation, at the end of June this year there were 490,5362 foreign health workers. Compared to the close of last year (51.3768), a decrease of 18.460 (3.7%). This is the first decrease since 2012 (-3172 people). The total number of foreign health insurance subscribers (122.1714), including local subscribers, also decreased by 17,825.
It is interpreted as the number of foreign workers returning to their country of origin or re-entering Korea due to the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). For example, in the first half of this year, the number of foreign workers who received non-professional employment (E-9) visas decreased by 19,100 compared to the same period last year.
However, the number of foreign dependents (201094) who do not pay expected health insurance premiums for employees at work increased by 539 (0.3%) since the end of last year. Dependents can be registered only if there is an employee in the family who pays for health insurance. In this sense, it is very unusual for the number of foreign workers to increase, but the number of dependents has increased.
This phenomenon is very likely to lead to deterioration in health and finances. “Subscriber reduction, dependence increase” means that fewer people pay health insurance premiums and more people only receive health insurance benefits without paying insurance premiums. Funding for health insurance remains volatile, with a deficit of 2.8 trillion won last year.
As for the cause of this phenomenon, the health insurance authorities have not been able to give a clear answer. An official from the Health Insurance Corporation said: “If you reduce the number of employees, it is normal to have fewer dependents, but it is rare.” “It is estimated that the number of cases of foreign employees staying in Korea bringing their parents etc. to Korea will increase.” “Do,” he said. In fact, the number of dependents per foreign employee has increased from 0.39 last year to 0.41 in the first half of this year. In some cases, a foreign subscriber registered up to 9 dependents. It is estimated that all the families that can be registered, including parents and children, as well as grandparents, were brought to Korea.
Some point out that it is due to an unfair supply and demand. This is a case of receiving benefits by making false official documents, even if they are not eligible as dependents. According to People’s Strength representative Kang Ki-yoon, the number of foreigners caught receiving illegal health insurance benefits reached 33,1384 from 2015 to June 2020.
◆ Increased number of cases of ‘going home only with health benefits’
There is also a growing voice that fundamental institutional improvement is needed. The most worrying thing about health insurance for foreigners is “good health.” This refers to a case in which a foreigner returns to Korea with only the benefits of reducing costly medical and surgical expenses, with the goal of achieving Korea’s relatively superior health and medical system. The reason that people react sensitively to the news that “health benefits paid to foreigners have increased” is also because of the possibility of a health problem. With this in mind, the government tightened the requirements for foreigners to enroll in health insurance last July. The minimum period of stay in Korea to become a regional subscriber has been increased from 3 to 6 months.
However, dependents do not have this limitation. If you have a family member of the employee, you can receive immediate health benefits. This means that foreigners registered at the workplace can bring their parents and grandparents from their home countries to Korea, register as dependents, and return home after receiving treatment. So there is concern that the increase in foreign dependents could lead to an increase in medical care cases.
Some voices say that giving foreigners dependent benefits is excessive. Clerk Jeong Mo said, “Our citizens receive benefits for their dependents due to old age after paying taxes and health insurance for life, but I don’t know if we should benefit even the families of foreigners who have not made contributions to Korea.” Those who can register as dependents are not directly related to their spouse, parents, children, grandparents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, but there is no difference between foreigners and Koreans.
Shin Hyun-woong, a researcher at the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, said: “Foreigners should consider how to limit dependents to spouses and minor children.” A government official said: “The overall improvement of the dependent health care system for foreigners will be enhanced, including the eradication of unfair supply and demand. I will review it.”
Reporter Seo Min-joon [email protected]
