In connection with the "hair loss drug support" that President Lee Jae-myung requested during a work briefing on the 16th of last month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is reviewing support for paying a youth health voucher.
On Jan. 2, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in an explanatory material that it is "reviewing various support measures for hair loss treatment," and "plans to prepare them after comprehensively reviewing medical necessity, cost-effectiveness, and other factors, and discussing them at bodies such as the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee."
The health voucher is a pilot project included in the Second National Health Insurance Comprehensive Plan (2024–2028) that the ministry released in 2024, and it includes support in the form of a voucher (coupon) equal to 10% of the previous year's health insurance premium payment (up to 120,000 won per year) for those ages 20–34 who use medical services fewer than four times a year (once per quarter). It is known that a plan is also being reviewed to include youth hair loss treatment within the scope of eligible uses for this voucher.
Earlier, on the 16th of last month during the ministry's work briefing, President Lee Jae-myung, referring to hair loss, said, "In the past it was seen as cosmetic, but these days it seems to be taken as a matter of survival," and requested a review of applying health insurance coverage.