Until now, foreign seasonal workers have been required to enroll in long-term care insurance, but going forward they will not have to. Foreign seasonal workers are those who receive an E-8 visa and work in the agriculture and fisheries sectors for up to eight months. Long-term care insurance premiums are split evenly between foreign seasonal workers and employers, and the new measure is expected to reduce the burden on both workers and employers.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 6th that a revision to the enforcement decree of the Long‑Term Care Insurance Act, which includes these measures, was approved at a Cabinet meeting.
Before the revision, the Long‑Term Care Insurance Act required foreigners enrolled in health insurance to also be enrolled in long-term care insurance as a rule. Long-term care insurance provides services that support physical activities and household tasks for people age 65 or older, or for those under 65 with geriatric diseases. However, opinions have noted that foreign seasonal workers are 19 to 55 years old and their stay is less than one year, making it unlikely they would use long-term care insurance services.
As of the end of last year, there were 914 foreign seasonal workers enrolled in long-term care insurance. About 1% of monthly wages is paid as long-term care insurance premiums, split evenly between foreign seasonal workers and employers. The premiums paid amounted to 398 million won. However, not a single person used long-term care insurance services. Accordingly, the ministry revised the related enforcement decree to allow foreign seasonal workers enrolled in employee health insurance to be excluded from long-term care insurance enrollment. The revision takes effect on the 13th.
An official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "Foreign seasonal workers who wish to be excluded from long-term care insurance enrollment can visit a nearby National Health Insurance Service branch and submit an application for exclusion."