Key Summary of Health Insurance Coverage for Nursing Care Expenses and How to Apply

Along with the news of a family member's hospitalization, the first concern is the burden of caregiving costs, which amount to millions of won every month. Starting from the second half of 2026, we aim to alleviate these financial worries. Health insurance coverage for nursing care costs in nursing hospitals가 Scheduled to be implemented in stagesThe government's expansion of support is expected to be of great help in reducing concerns about severe patients and their families going bankrupt due to caregiving costs. Scope of Target and Support MethodSince it varies depending on the type of hospital, it is advisable to check the exact details in advance.

Starting in the second half of 2026, the phased implementation of insurance coverage for nursing care costs in nursing hospitals will significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Eligibility is limited primarily to severely ill patients with high medical needs, and a procedure to verify whether the hospital where the patient is hospitalized is designated is mandatory.

Why Caregiving Cost Support at Nursing Hospitals Is Important

Until now, if a private caregiver was hired, the patient's family had to bear the full cost, ranging from 80,000 to 120,000 won per day. Since caregiving expenses alone exceeded 2 million won for just one month of hospitalization, it placed a tremendous financial burden on families requiring long-term hospitalization. To resolve this situation, the government has a system in place to support a portion of caregiving costs through health insurance.We are establishing a system. The core of the system, which will be introduced starting in 2026, is to go beyond simple cost reduction and help patients focus on their treatment in a more stable environment.

Who is eligible for health insurance?

It is not applied uniformly to all patients. Severity of disease and medical needEligible recipients are selected based on [the criteria]. The coverage to be implemented starting in the second half of 2026 will begin with patients of very high and severe conditions who have a high need for medical care. In particular Patients admitted to government-designated medical-focused nursing hospitals...will receive priority benefits. To determine if your family member is eligible for support, the most accurate method is to review the integrated assessment criteria or consult with the hospital's administrative office.

Checkpoints to Consider When Choosing a Hospital

In order to reduce the burden of caregiving costs Whether the hospital you intend to be admitted to operates integrated nursing and care services Alternatively, you must first verify whether it is a government-designated nursing hospital. Since there are differences in the scope of services between general nursing hospitals and medical-focused nursing hospitals, if you need to transfer hospitals, prioritize considering eligibility for benefits. Whether specialized medical staff suited to the patient's condition are on staffCarefully examining these factors is beneficial for long-term treatment planning. Please always remember that the choice of hospital is directly linked to nursing care benefit costs.

Application Procedure and Verification Method

Rather than a separate, complex individual application A method of checking eligibility and receiving guidance through the hospital counter where you are hospitalized.This is common practice. This is because hospitals assess the patient's medical needs and go through a process of registering them as eligible for caregiving support in accordance with government guidelines. Consult with the assigned nurse or social worker whenever the patient's condition changes.Therefore, it is advisable to periodically check for grade reassessments or eligibility for support. While the hospital leads the administrative procedures, the more actively guardians inquire, the faster they can secure the necessary information.

Since the scope of benefits for health insurance caregiving expense support varies depending on the patient's condition, rather than having unconditional expectations First, check the patient's current condition and whether an inpatient hospital has been designated.The key is to do so. Since the number of eligible hospitals is scheduled to gradually expand during the initial implementation phase, please do not miss the announcements from your affiliated hospital. We hope that this change will reduce the burden of caregiving costs, even slightly, and allow patients to recover in a better environment.