(Break News Gwangju/Jeonnam) Reporter Haksu Lee = Over the past five years, there have been 16,000 cases of foreigners abusing health insurance benefits by stealing other people’s names or receiving illegally, amounting to 568 million won, resulting in health problems. It was pointed out that the reliability of the insurance system was being greatly damaged.
Representative Lee Gae-ho of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee (pictured, Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong, Jeollanam-do) said on the 16th through the National Health Insurance Corporation‘s government audit data, “Illegal receipt of health insurance for foreigners has resulted in financial losses and waste of medical resources in the National Health Insurance. “It is a serious situation,” he pointed out.
To solve this problem, the National Health Insurance Corporation introduced a system that requires medical institutions to check ID for identity verification, but it was revealed that there are still limitations in collection and punishment related to illegal receipt of benefits.
Since most foreign identity thieves are unqualified people whose whereabouts are difficult to identify, even if they are reported to an investigative agency, the investigation is often stopped or effective collection is difficult, and there are frequent cases where collection itself is impossible due to the impersonator leaving the country or their whereabouts being unclear.
Regarding this, Rep. Lee said, “Out of the 16,000 cases of illegal receipt of benefits that have occurred over the past five years, only 49 cases (0.31%) have resulted in punishment,” adding, “The National Health Insurance Corporation and the relevant authorities are preventing foreigners from denying health insurance.” He emphasized, “We need to prepare thorough measures to prevent illegal supply and demand, and institutional improvements such as reporting and rewards are needed so that collection and punishment related to illegal supply can be properly carried out.”
Rep. Lee Gae-ho: “Foreigners’ Health Insurance Fraud Cases, 16,000 Cases in 5 Years”… Urgent Countermeasures Needed
(Break News Gwangju·Jeonnam) Reporter Lee Hak-soo = In the past 5 years, there have been 16,000 cases of foreigners using others’ names or fraudulently receiving health insurance benefits, amounting to 568 million won, and it has been pointed out that the reliability of the health insurance system is being greatly damaged.
On the 16th, Rep. Lee Gae-ho of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee (pictured, Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, Jangseong, Jeollanam-do) pointed out through the National Health Insurance Corporation’s state audit data that “the loss of national health insurance finances and the waste of medical resources are serious due to cases of foreigners receiving health insurance fraud.”
In order to resolve this, the National Health Insurance Corporation introduced a system requiring medical institutions to verify their identity, but it was revealed that there are still limitations in collecting and punishing fraudulent benefits.
Since most foreigners who have stolen their names are unqualified individuals whose whereabouts are difficult to trace, even if they are reported to investigative agencies, the investigation is often suspended or effective collection is difficult. There are also frequent cases where collection itself is impossible because the fraudster has left the country or their whereabouts are unclear.
Regarding this, Rep. Lee emphasized, “Out of the 16,000 cases of fraudulent receipt of benefits over the past five years, only 49 cases (0.31%) resulted in punishment,” and “The National Health Insurance Corporation and relevant authorities must establish thorough measures to prevent foreigners from fraudulently receiving health insurance benefits, and institutional supplements such as reporting and rewards are needed to ensure proper collection and punishment of fraudulent receipt of benefits.”
View original article:Break News Jeonnam
