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.
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Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
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