President Lee Jae-myung on the 16th reviewed whether the current national health insurance and fiscal support system sufficiently reflects reality regarding infertility support, hair loss and obesity treatment, and Korean medicine infertility treatment, during a Health and Welfare Ministry briefing. Noting in particular that "frustration is growing among young people who pay premiums but do not receive benefits," Lee called for a review of the overall system.
Lee first brought up infertility support, saying, "There is support for people who want to become pregnant and give birth but cannot," and asked in detail about the cap on the number of procedures and the support structure by method. When the ministry explained that it currently offers support for up to 25 procedures, including intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization, Lee asked again, "Even though the cost differs greatly by method, is it applied the same?" and "Are individual characteristics and preferences reflected?"
Shifting focus to Korean medicine infertility treatment, Lee said, "I understand that there are infertility prescriptions on the Korean medicine side as well," and asked, "Is it covered by insurance, and is there state support?" The ministry replied, "Korean medicine infertility treatment is not covered by insurance benefits, and some local governments support it as a program." Lee asked, "If its efficacy has not been verified, why is it allowed, and how is the scientific proof proceeding?"
On hair loss treatment, Lee raised more direct questions. "I once pledged support for hair-loss drugs during the past presidential race," Lee said. "This time I did not make that pledge, but I still hear a lot of people asking why it is not being done." Lee added, "Isn't hair loss also part of a disease? It is a problem many young people face these days."
When the ministry explained that hair loss due to genetic factors is hard to regard as a disease and is categorized as nonreimbursable because it is largely cosmetic, Lee said, "Genetic diseases are also due to heredity, so whether you see this as a disease is a matter of defining the concept," adding, "In the past it was called cosmetic, but these days there is a tendency to see it as a matter of survival."
Lee said, "If finances are a burden, there could be options other than unlimited coverage, such as limits on the number of times or on aggregates," adding, "It is undesirable that the perception is growing that people pay premiums but receive no benefits." Lee also said, "I hear that when items are managed under benefits, drug prices also go down, so please review these factors comprehensively."
Lee expressed a similar view on obesity treatment. Pointing out that under the current system only some surgical treatments for severe obesity are covered, Lee asked how far the review has proceeded for drug treatments as well.
Wrapping up, Lee said, "I understand the principles of insurance, but from the perspective of the younger generation, they may think, 'I only pay premiums and get no benefits,'" stressing, "We need to consider why issues that are urgent for individuals—such as childbirth, hair loss, and obesity—are outside the system."