Each Korean Pays 23 Million Won for Medical Care During Lifetime

On average, the total amount of money a Korean pays for receiving medical treatment during his or her lifetime is estimated to be 23.11 million won ($19,258).
The amount elderly people, over 60 years old, pay for obtaining medical service has been sharply rising this decade: Out of the overall amount of medical expensed paid by Koreans, senior citizens accounted for 22.7 percent in 1998, compared to 12.5 percent in 1990.
The National Health Insurance Corporation released a report entitled ' Increase in Medical Treatment Expenses of Old People and Its Countermeasures' on November 3. The national health insurance body conducted a statistical survey on medical expenses paid by public servants and school personnel who have medical insurance.
According to the report, the average amount of medical expenses over and above expenses covered by medical insurance per person paid by public servants and school personnel from their birth to death amounted to 23.11 million won (about $19,258 ), or 262,600 won ($218.9) each year.
People in their sixties paid average medical expenses of 574,600 won per person every year, the most among all age groups, followed by those in their seventies and babies under 1 year old at 574,100 won and 451,700 won respectively.
Seo Jang-soo:jsbee@joongang.co.kr