More people paying maximum for health insurance as affluent population rises

SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of people paying the maximum for state-run health insurance, about 2.3 million won (US$1,990) a month, is increasing each year, health authorities said Friday, a sign that the number of rich people in South Korea is rising.

Records from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service showed the number of the employed paying the maximum totaled 3,130 as of April, up from 2,508 in 2012. The number for the unemployed increased to 577 from 359.

The employed group shares the health insurance payment with their employers, with the maximum set at just over 477 million won a month as of April. A worker in the top salary category pays about 2.38 million won each month.

For non-employed subscribers, the monthly maximum is 2.27 million won.

The amount of health insurance payment is based on the total assets owned by subscribers and their salary income, but it is capped at the current maximum.

According to the records, the number of non-employed top insurance payers was 14 in 2007. The number for April this year marks a jump of 41 times. For the employed, the increase was twofold.

Some lawmakers have been demanding more detailed adjustments in the maximum payment limit to collect more from the high income group. They are also demanding revisions to the strictly asset-based calculations, arguing that properties, such as homes and automobiles, should be excluded for retirees who no longer have steady incomes and do not have large financial savings.

The last revision to the payment guidelines was in 2011.
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