The number of long-term delinquents who have not paid their health insurance premiums for more than a year has reached 950,000. Among them, about 4,000 have arrears exceeding 50 million won. In the political arena, a bill has been proposed to restrict the overseas travel of high delinquent taxpayers.
According to the National Health Insurance Service and the National Assembly on the 31st, as of the end of April this year, the number of long-term delinquents who have exceeded the payment deadline by one year is counted at 949,151. The total arrears amount to 2.88 trillion won.
Among them, 3,937 individuals owe more than 50 million won, with their overdue amount totaling 388.9 billion won. By bracket, there are 3,003 delinquents owing between 50 million to less than 100 million won, with a total of 199.3 billion won unpaid, and those owing more than 100 million won number 934, with their arrears amounting to 189.6 billion won.
In contrast, the number of those with arrears below 30 million won stands at 939,395, with total debts amounting to 2.2779 trillion won. There are 5,819 delinquents owing between 30 million to less than 50 million won, with a total of 220.9 billion won unpaid.
In this context, Han Ji-a, a member of the Health and Welfare Committee of the People Power Party, proposed a bill in May that would allow the Minister of Justice to request travel bans for those whose health insurance premiums, overdue payments, and total debts exceed 50 million won, starting from one year after the payment deadline.
According to the member's office, households with long-term and high arrears exceeding 10 million won for more than one year have increased from 9,100 households at the end of 2019 to 14,500 households by the end of 2023. One member noted, "If the basis for travel bans is established, the effectiveness of collecting overdue insurance premiums can be increased."
However, there are concerns that this could infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of residence and transfer. Since a travel ban corresponds to a restriction of fundamental rights, there are opinions that the conditions and procedures must be strictly examined. Additionally, there are voices calling for a review of whether a travel ban is an appropriate measure, considering that health insurance premiums are not tax debts, but rather a creditor-debtor relationship between the National Health Insurance Service and its subscribers and users.