J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.
2007 Jul;46(4):373-377.
The Status Quo and Problems of Private Health Insurances for Psychiatric Illnesses in Korea
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, KyungHee University, Seoul, Korea. mompeian@yahoo.co.kr
- 2Department of Psychiatry, KyungHee University East-West Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Recently, Korean psychiatrists have noticed the complaints from probands and family members that private health insurance companies do not pay for most psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, probands cannot even apply for insurance because of their medical record of psychiatric disorders. Authors investigated and reviewed contracts of Korean private insurance companies to find reasons for banning psychiatric disorders from insurance policies.
METHODS
Authors reviewed more than 800 contracts from 48 insurance companies.
RESULTS
Among all the psychiatric diagnoses, few of them-dementia and some other organic mental disorders-are guaranteed to be paid from insurance companies. Less then 10 contracts say they pay for psychiatric illnesses. Most insurance companies have contracts prohibiting F codes ; however, there are not enough reasons in these contracts.
CONCLUSIONS
In the private health insurance system, psychiatric illnesses have almost no rooms. It is very urgent to add space for patients with psychiatric illnesses and psychiatrists in the insurance policies.
