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The government’s policy to expand national health insurance coverage, better known as “Moon Jae-in Care,” has marked its fourth anniversary, with nearly 40 million people benefitting from the healthcare plan.

The initiative made its debut in August 2017, serving as a safety net for the people, especially for the underprivileged, children and the elderly facing astronomical healthcare costs.

“The policy to expand national health insurance coverage aims to ensure that a lack of money never prevents anyone from receiving treatment and that no households are ruined as a result of medical expenses,” President Moon said during an event to celebrate the anniversary at Cheong Wa Dae on August 12.

“As a result, 37 million people were able to save 9.2 trillion won in medical expenses as of the end of last year.”

However, the President stressed that health insurance coverage must be expanded further to reduce the burden households face from medical expenses even more.

“With medical technology advances and related treatments becoming more complex, many new non-reimbursable services have emerged,” President Moon added.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Moon said the policy contributed to the nation’s fight against the unprecedented virus.

“This policy has helped us respond rapidly and appropriately to every area connected to infectious diseases, ranging from the costs of preventing, diagnosing and treating COVID-19 infections as well as personal illnesses to bills for late-night care and the services of medical professionals,” he said.

“The national health insurance has provided a reliable last line of defense in the prevention and control of COVID-19.”

When the new public healthcare plan was introduced, there were concerns that the national health insurance system could go into the red, but the government has stably managed the funds, while sharply expanding healthcare coverage, according to the President.

“When we devised the policy to strengthen health insurance coverage four years ago, there were a lot of concerns that the costs would greatly deplete National Health Insurance Service funds,” he said.

“The government promised to use only 10 trillion won (US$8.5 billion) of the funds’ then-20 trillion won in reserves to strengthen insurance coverage. As promised, the scope of health insurance coverage has been greatly expanded, but the finances have been managed stably.”

He added that health insurance reserves stood at 17.4 trillion won as of the end of last year, far more than the 10 trillion won targeted for the end of 2022.

Separately, President Moon said, on August 19, the government will expand its free cervical cancer vaccination program to benefit all girls aged 17 or younger and its support for women undergoing infertility treatment, both of which fall under Moon Jae-in Care.

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