내년 건보료 직장인 월평균 3천653원↑...건보 보장성 강화<br /><br />The South Korean government will raise monthly healthcare insurance payments by three-point-two percent next year,... but some ultrasound tests will be covered by the insurance.<br />Our Choi Si-young tells more.<br />Next year, South Koreans will pay around three U.S. dollars more a month for their national health insurance payments.<br />Workers will pay about 95 dollars a month while the retirees and self-employed, known as "regional subscribers", will pay about 74 dollars.<br />Setting the rate on Thursday, the health ministry said the raise in insurance payments was a compromise between the government, which wanted a larger increase, and labor unions, which demanded a smaller increase.<br />On the same day, the ministry also unveiled measures that will bring down the cost of some medical expenses.<br />Starting September, health insurance will apply to ultrasounds of the prostate, bladder and other male reproductive parts.<br />The ministry says around nine-hundred-thousand men will see a reduction in their expenses.<br />It says those patients could pay around one third of what they pay now with the new insurance coverage.<br />Health insurance will also newly apply to some females undergoing medical examinations.<br />Starting next year, females who gave birth prematurely or have underweight babies will pay less for their regular check-ups.<br />Those patients will only have to pay five percent of the entire cost, down from ten percent now.<br />The health ministry says it plans to raise healthcare payment rates by an average of around three-and-a-half percent every year until 2022.<br />Choi Si-young, Arirang News.<br />
