Public pet health insurance system debate in full swing... 68% of citizens favor it

Recently, the culture of treating pets as family members has spread in Korea, and the cost of their health care has become a social concern. As a result, discussions on the introduction of a public health insurance program for pets are in full swing.

Representative Min Hong-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea introduced a bill to amend the Veterinary Practitioners Act in November last year, called the Pet Medical Insurance Act. The bill aims to create a government-led public insurance system, similar to the National Health Insurance for humans, to reduce the medical expenses that pet owners have to bear when their pets get sick.

According to a recent survey conducted by DailyBet, about 68% (651 out of 952 participants) were in favor of the bill. Those in favor said that “public insurance will reduce the burden of using veterinary clinics and revitalize the pet healthcare market.”

However, about 32% (301 respondents) expressed concerns. “The introduction of public insurance is likely to lower the price of medical treatment too much and reduce the quality of medical services,” they said, ”and the mandatory payment of insurance premiums may discourage people from registering their animals and increase the number of strays.”

Experts also recommend a cautious approach. “While the public insurance system has a clear purpose of improving people's welfare and quality of life, pet insurance has a limited purpose of reducing the financial burden on pet owners, which requires careful discussion,” said a recent report by the Office of the Expert Committee on Agriculture and Water Affairs. It was also suggested that it would be more appropriate to manage it as a separate, stand-alone law rather than within the current veterinary law framework.

If a public health insurance system for pets were to become a reality, it would be the first of its kind in Korea, and there are no successful international examples, so more thorough and careful preparation is required. Therefore, it is essential to collect opinions from various stakeholders and ensure sufficient social consensus in the future legislative process.

Majority in favor of pet health insurance

In a survey on the bill to introduce public health insurance for pets, introduced by Representative Min Hong-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea, 68% of respondents were in favor. The bill proposes the introduction of a public insurance system similar to human health insurance to ease the burden of pet medical expenses, and includes the establishment of a pet health insurance council within the government to discuss eligibility, coverage, and premium rates.

Currently, there are only private pet insurance programs run by private insurers in Korea, and there is no public pet insurance at the national level. In the survey, those in favor of the bill hoped to “expand the pet healthcare market and reduce the financial burden on pet owners,” while those opposed were concerned about “a decline in medical quality due to a drop in medical fees and a worsening of the stray animal problem due to an increase in animal registration evasion.”

The Office of the Specialized Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Water advised that the bill should be approached cautiously and that a separate law should be enacted if introduced.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is 'pet public insurance'?

A: It is a government-run insurance system that allows pet owners to pay a certain amount of money every month, just like the National Health Insurance for humans, and only pay a portion of the medical expenses when their pets get sick.

Q2. Is there currently a public insurance program for pets in Korea?

A: No. Currently, there are only private pet insurance programs run by private insurers, and there is no public pet insurance program at the national level.

Q3. What will happen if this bill is passed?

A: A council will be set up within the government to determine the selection of animals to be insured, the scope of coverage, and the criteria for veterinary fees. Owners are expected to pay less for veterinary care.

Q4. Why are opponents concerned?

A: They are concerned that excessively low veterinary fees will lead to a decrease in the quality of medical care, and that the mandatory payment of insurance premiums will lead to an increase in animal avoidance and abandonment.

Q5. Have there been any successes abroad?

A: To date, there have been no successful cases worldwide, so more thorough preparation and review is required for the first attempt in Korea.

#publicpetinsurance #petinsurance #pethealthcare #veterinarylegislationamendment #publicpetinsurance

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

이 블로그의 인기 게시물

Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering MagR and Cry2 gene expression

Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering MagR and Cry2 gene expression Dinotefuran is known to negatively affect honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) behavior, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The magnetoreceptor ( MagR , which responds to magnetic fields) and cryptochrome ( Cry2 , which is sensitive to light) genes are considered to play important roles in honey bees’ homing and localization behaviors. Our study found that dinotefuran, even without direct contact, can act like a magnet, significantly altering MagR expression in honeybees. This non-contact exposure reduced the bees’ homing rate. In further experiments, we exposed foragers to light and magnetic fields, the MagR gene responded to magnetic fields only in the presence of light, with Cry 2 playing a key switching role in the magnetic field receptor mechanism ( MagR–Cry2 ). Yeast two-hybrid and BiFc assays confirmed an interactio...

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis Earlier this year, midwives from 41 countries shared their experiences of working in communities affected by climate change through our survey, Midwives’ Experiences and Perspectives on Climate Change. Their voices shaped our new report, Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis , which highlights how midwives are already responding to the health impacts of climate disasters like floods, wildfires, and extreme heat—and why they must be included in climate action plans. What did we learn?Climate change is damaging community health: 75% of midwives reported that climate change is harming the communities they serve, with rising rates of preterm births, food insecurity, and restricted access to care during disasters like floods. Midwives are critical first responders: Midwives are often the first and only healthcare providers on the ground in crises, delivering care during wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. Midwives face signi...

Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor

Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor Newspaper distributor Pushparaja Shetty (45), who sustained severe injuries in a bee attack, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at a hospital in Mangaluru. Pushparaja was attacked by a swarm of bees on Wednesday morning while walking at Kenjaru Taangadi under Bajpe town panchayat limits. He was immediately admitted to a hospital for treatment but could not survive the ordeal. Fondly known as ‘Boggu’ in the Porkodi area, Pushparaja was well-known for his dedication to delivering newspapers on foot to every household. He was admired for his generosity, as he often distributed sweets to schoolchildren on Independence Day using his own earnings and contributed part of his income to the betterment of society. Pushparaja was unmarried and is survived by three brothers and one sister.

“Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns

“Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns The World Beekeeping Awards will not grant a prize for honey next year due to the “inability” to thoroughly test honey for adulteration. The announcement comes amid the rise of honey fraud in the EU, where a 2023 investigation found that 46% of 147 honey samples tested were likely contaminated with low-cost plant syrups. Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, organizes the event at its Congress, whose 49th edition will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 2025. The conference brings together beekeepers, scientists and other stakeholders. “We will celebrate honey in many ways at the Congress, but honey will no longer be a category, and thus, there will be no honey judging in the World Beekeeping Awards. The lessons learned from Canada 2019 and Chile 2023 were that adequate testing was impossible if we are to award winning honey at the Con...

Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific

Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific In an exciting development for environmentalists and beekeeping experts, researchers have discovered eight new species of masked bees in the Pacific Islands, shining a light on the rich biodiversity hidden within the forest canopy. This discovery underscores the critical role bees play in our ecosystems and the pressing need for conservation efforts to protect these vital pollinators. A New Frontier in Bee Research By exploring the forest canopy, scientists have opened a new frontier in bee research, revealing species that have adapted to life high above the ground. These discoveries are crucial for understanding the complex relationships between bees, flora, and the broader ecosystem. The new species of masked bees, characterized by their striking black bodies with yellow or white highlights, particularly on their faces, rely exclusively on the forest canopy for survival. The Importance of Bee Conservation...

Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee

Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee There are lots of opportunities to be as busy as a bee during these winter holidays. As we hustle toward the dawn of the New Year, it can be hard to notice that the natural world is actually suggesting something different for us right now. We’re past the solstice, but the winter still stretches ahead, the days are still short and the nights long. We’re being invited into a quieter, more inner-focused time. The ancient yogis were all about this inner focus. In India, for example, the Upanishads, the Sanskrit writings that accompanied the development of Hinduism — and alongside it, yoga — beginning around 800 B.C.E., went deeper than earlier texts had into philosophy and questions of being. With the goals of increased inner awareness and higher consciousness, yoga was at that time not yet as focused on the body or on asanas, as it now can tend to be. But the yogis did develop many practices to try to open the way to those goals. They discovered...

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles As the number of pets in South Korea steadily increases, pet owners face a growing dilemma due to the limited number of pet cemeteries across the country. Under the current legal framework, pet remains are classified as household waste, requiring specific disposal methods that are neither convenient nor easily accessible for all citizens. The imbalance between the rising pet population—over 5.52 million households with pets by the end of 2022—and the mere 70 registered pet cemeteries has led to significant challenges. This shortage is particularly evident in regions like Jeju Island, where pet owners must undergo arduous journeys to the mainland to ensure their pets receive proper burials. The root cause of this shortage lies in the strict regulations governing the establishment of pet cemeteries. These facilities, which must include crematoriums, face numerous restrictions, such as proximity to resident...

German election: Climate and environment take a back seat

German election: Climate and environment take a back seat When the coalition government comprising the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) , Greens and neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) emerged after the last German federal election in the fall of 2021, then-incoming Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) did not object to being called the "climate chancellor." That was no surprise: the climate crisis had been a top issue during the election campaign. The new government made the fight against climate change a task for the Economy Ministry and appointed Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck from the Greens as its head. Three and a half years later, campaign speeches barely mention climate protection. The dominant issues are how to curb irregular immigration and how to boost Germany's sluggish economy. Skeptical view of renewable energy The head of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) , Friedrich Merz ...

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face Bees have been an integral part of our ecosystem and human agriculture for over four centuries, primarily utilized for their honey in the early days. Now, they are recognized more for their critical role in pollination, which directly impacts a vast majority of the food we consume. Mark Lilly, a prominent beekeeper, emphasizes that without bees' pollination efforts, a significant portion of our diet would be at risk. However, bees face numerous threats, including varroa mites and, in specific regions like West Virginia, black bears. These challenges necessitate concerted efforts for preservation and protection. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: Why are bees so important to the ecosystem? A1: Bees are crucial for pollinating plants, which is necessary for the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Without bees, a large portion of the food we eat would not be available. Q2: What are the main threats to...

Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive

Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals a distressing consequence of global warming: the irreversible loss of valuable climate data stored in alpine glaciers. The research, conducted by a team led by Margit Schwikowski from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), underscores the alarming rate at which glaciers are melting and highlights the implications for climate research. The study focuses on the Corbassière glacier at Grand Combin in Switzerland, where ice cores drilled in 2018 and 2020 were intended to serve as vital climate archives. However, comparing the two sets of ice cores reveals a grim reality—global warming has rendered the glacier unsuitable as a reliable climate archive. Glaciers, renowned as climate archives, encapsulate valuable information about past climatic conditions and atmospheric compositions. The fluctuating concentrations of trace substances in ice layers provide insights into historica...

Small actions make a big difference engilsh dkbee.com

이 블로그 검색