Business · Economy · 17 hrs ago
South Korea reviews about 570 requests a day for car injury treatment beyond eight weeks
South Korea has begun reviewing requests from minor traffic injury patients seeking treatment beyond eight weeks.
Under the rule, people with injuries classified as grades 12 to 14 must get a medical review to continue treatment after that point.
The system began on September 10, and about 5,700 requests had been filed by November 6, or roughly 570 a day.
Insurers or car mutual aid groups send patients’ documents to the Korea Automobile Insurance Repair Research and Training Center for review.
The rule aims to reduce unnecessary payments linked to excessive long-term treatment.
Insurers hope lower claim costs could improve their finances and eventually help reduce premiums, but that outcome is not yet established.
They are also watching for patients to shift claims to the first eight weeks or receive a more serious injury classification to avoid review.
Some decisions have started to go out, and the system’s effects and fairness will be watched as it handles more cases.
South Korea is receiving about 570 requests a day to review whether minor-injury car accident patients need treatment beyond eight weeks.
The review is required under a rule for patients with injury grades 12 to 14 who seek treatment after that period.
The rule took effect on September 10 to curb unnecessary long-term treatment and insurance payouts.
Requests totaled about 5,700 as of November 6, close to the government’s forecast.
Insurers expect the rule could improve claims performance, but warn that patients or providers may shift claims to avoid the review.
- Who
- Minor-injury car accident patients seeking treatment beyond eight weeks, and the Korea Automobile Insurance Repair Research and Training Center reviewing their cases.
- What
- The center is receiving about 570 requests a day to assess whether further treatment is needed.
- When
- The rule took effect on September 10; about 5,700 requests had been recorded by November 6.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The rule requires medical review of extended treatment for injury grades 12 to 14, aiming to curb excessive treatment and unnecessary insurance payouts.
Insurance industry
Patients and providers seeking to avoid or limit the review
Expected impact
Insurance industry
Insurers expect fewer unnecessary payouts, improved claims performance and possible room to lower premiums.
Patients and providers seeking to avoid or limit the review
Some may increase claims within the first eight weeks or seek a higher injury grade to bypass the rule.
The eight-week rule took effect.
Requests for review began arriving in earnest as patients prepared documents for treatment beyond eight weeks.
About 5,700 requests had been recorded, averaging roughly 570 a day.
Some applicants began receiving review results.
- Daily average
- About 570 requests
- Total requests
- About 5,700 by November 6
- Covered injury grades
- 12 to 14
- Rule start date
- September 10
- Review panel
- About 200 medical and Korean medicine specialists
What people are saying
아직 극초기라 더 지켜봐야 하지만 8주룰 도입이 손해율을 낮추는 데 긍정적일 것으로 기대한다
손해율이 양호해지면 보험료를 인하할 여력도 생길 것