Starting next year, the age for receiving child allowances will be gradually increased, and integrated medical and care services for the elderly and disabled will be fully implemented. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced its work plan on the 16th, focusing on expanding the age for child allowances, nationwide expansion of integrated medical and care services, and alleviating medical expenses.
Integrated care services, where the elderly and disabled receive medical, nursing, and care services at their current residence instead of facilities, will be fully implemented from March next year. To this end, home medical centers and integrated home care institutions will be expanded, and the target of customized care services for the elderly will also be increased. New services with high field demand, such as intensive support for discharged patients and frailty prevention management, will also be introduced.
The age for receiving child allowances will be increased by one year each year, reaching under 13 years old by 2030. Additional allowances will be provided to children in non-metropolitan and population-declining areas. Medical support for pregnancy and childbirth will also be expanded, increasing the target for fertility test cost support and raising the medical expense support limit for premature babies to a maximum of 20 million won. Moonlight Children’s Hospitals will be expanded to address the gap in pediatric care during nights and holidays.
The standard median income will be raised to the maximum level, providing a livelihood benefit of up to 2.07 million won per month for a four-person household. The target for national pension insurance premium support for low-income regional subscribers will be expanded, and a project to support the first national pension premium for young people will be promoted with the goal of introduction by 2027. Military service and childbirth credits will also be expanded to strengthen old-age income security.