Health insurance fees apply to rapid antigen testing in hospitals and clinics… 5 million for the patient

55,920 won per test… The patient pays only the examination fee

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Seo-young Kim = The health insurance fee is temporarily applied to the rapid antigen test conducted by local hospitals and clinics for patients suspected of having COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 28th that the 3rd Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee (Health Review) was held on the 28th as the ‘neighborhood hospital/clinic inspection and treatment system conversion implementation plan’ was in full swing due to the spread of Omicron mutation.

The price decided this time is 555,000 won, which includes the examination fee (16,970 won), rapid antigen test fee (17,260 won), and infection prevention and control fee (21,690 won) per test at the hospital level. One thousand 920 won.

This applies to patients with fever/respiratory symptoms, and patients suspected of having COVID-19 as a result of a doctor’s diagnosis visiting a ‘respirator treatment designated medical institution’, and the patient only needs to pay 5,000 won for the examination fee.

The rate will be implemented for two months from the 3rd of next month to the 3rd of April, when the COVID-19 testing system at local hospitals and clinics starts in earnest.

The members of Konjeong-shim expressed a side opinion that the government should provide support, such as expanding the national health insurance subsidy budget in consideration of the size of future diagnostic testing expenditures.

In addition, it requested the government to report the ‘Health Insurance Disaster Response Manual’, which will be applied in future disasters, to the Health Care Review by March.