Civil group criticizes NRP candidate Lee for ‘inciting hatred’ with healthcare pledge < Policy < Article

Presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party (NRP) has faced criticism for allegedly spreading “hateful propaganda” through his proposal to expand the co-payment differential system as a means to reduce national health insurance expenditure.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, the Free Healthcare Movement, a civic organization, condemned the NRP candidate’s policy of imposing a 90 percent co-payment rate for individuals exceeding 120 medical visits annually, labeling it a “poorly conceived campaign tactic.”

The organization asserted, “Excessive medical care is an issue concerning healthcare providers in Korea. The authority to determine medical treatment lies with the physician, not the patient.”

The group further criticized Lee’s proposal to triple the threshold for what is considered excessive medical care utilization. They argued that medical providers, private health insurance companies, and the government are the primary contributors to the problem of excessive medical care in Korea.

“Korea exhibits the lowest level of public health insurance coverage among OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries and the highest proportion of household spending dedicated to healthcare,” the organization stated. They argued that Lee’s policy incorrectly suggests that patients frequently visit hospitals because medical care is inexpensive.

“In Korea, 95 percent of medical institutions are private hospitals, and their profitability increases with the number of tests and treatments administered, leading to significant provider-induced overtreatment,” the statement continued. “The fundamental cause of overtreatment is not patients but the ethical lapses of healthcare providers.”

The Free Healthcare Movement also stated, “NRP candidate Lee should direct his criticism towards the government for violating regulations and failing to contribute its mandated share while consistently collecting health insurance premiums from ordinary young adults and the general public each year,” referencing the government’s alleged non-compliance with the stipulated 20 percent contribution rate for national health insurance.

Regarding the potential impact on vulnerable populations, the group noted, “Elderly individuals with low incomes and chronic illnesses frequently require multiple hospital visits for necessary medical treatment, often exceeding 120 visits annually.” They warned, “If the government fails to regulate doctors and medical institutions responsible for overtreatment and instead increases medical costs by penalizing patients, many sick individuals will face unjust barriers to accessing essential hospital care.”

The organization also challenged Lee’s assertion that the national healthcare system incurs an annual loss of 12.1 billion won (approximately $8.81 million USD) due to dependents of foreign subscribers.

“Migrants contribute a substantial surplus to the national health insurance fund. This surplus amounted to 512.5 billion won in 2021, 544.8 billion won in 2022, and 730.8 billion won in 2023, totaling 1.78 trillion won over these three years,” the group explained. “They contribute more in health insurance premiums compared to Korean nationals, yet they often face difficulties in accessing medical care even when ill.”

The Free Healthcare Movement concluded that NRP Candidate Lee is attempting to attribute the challenges within the national health insurance system to migrants through the dissemination of “hateful propaganda.”