Dongtanryeok Traffic Accident Korean Medicine Clinic Hospitalization Fees, How Much Will Patient Bear When Processing with Auto Insurance?
Author: Noble I Korean medicine clinic (Medical Staff in Charge)
This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Law.
Dongtanryeok Traffic Accident Korean Medicine Clinic Hospitalization Fees, How Much Will Patient Bear When Processing with Auto Insurance?
When considering hospitalization at a Korean medicine clinic after a traffic accident, the first concern that comes to mind is likely "Will I have to pay the costs directly?" To give you the conclusion upfront, if the accident is due to the other party's negligence (based on personal injury coverage processing), hospitalization and treatment costs at a Korean medicine clinic are in principle not directly borne by the patient.
According to the Automobile Damage Compensation Guarantee Act, treatment at Korean medicine clinics and Korean medicine hospitals falls under the scope of auto insurance coverage, and treatment costs are paid directly by the insurance company to the medical institution. According to related materials, patients do not pay treatment costs upfront and then claim reimbursement; instead, costs are directly settled between the insurance company and the medical institution, so from the start of treatment through discharge, you rarely need to open your own wallet.
However, there are exceptions as well. ▪ Non-covered items added for tonic purposes ▪ Cases where you bear partial fault—in these cases, additional costs may arise, so it is advisable to confirm with medical staff in advance before hospitalization. Suitability of procedures and the scope of insurance coverage will be determined after consultation.
One-line Summary: If the accident is due to the other party's negligence, in principle your patient responsibility is 0 won—however, this can vary depending on non-covered items and fault ratio.
Treatment Items Covered When Hospitalized at a Korean Medicine Clinic with Auto Insurance
Many people mistakenly believe that auto insurance will not apply to Korean medicine clinic treatment. However, according to Insurance Research Institute research report, Korean medicine medical care has been included in the auto insurance fee schedule since 1999, and items treated as non-covered by health insurance are recognized as covered items under auto insurance.
Below are the main Korean medicine treatment items that can be processed with auto insurance.
Category | Item | Auto Insurance Recognition |
|---|---|---|
Basic Treatment | Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Cupping | ✔ Recognized |
Advanced Treatment | Medicinal Acupuncture, Chuna Therapy | ✔ Recognized |
Herbal Medicine | Decoction (including decoction fee) | ✔ Recognized (criteria by item) |
Hospitalization | Hospitalization Fee, Treatment Fee | ✔ Recognized |
Tonic Purpose | Gochuganjung, Ginseng Velvet, and other high-cost non-covered items | ✗ Principally not recognized |
In particular, medicinal acupuncture, chuna therapy, and decoction are explicitly stated as recognized items in the auto insurance fee schedule in the Insurance Research Institute research report. However, in the case of decoctions, coverage criteria by item may apply, such as prescription limits for ambulatory patients (maximum 1 week per prescription, maximum 21 days for 3 prescriptions), as SBS News (2023.11.08) reported. Confirming in advance at the Korean medicine clinic which items apply can reduce unexpected costs.
Noble I Korean medicine clinic's Approach to Dongtanryeok Traffic Accident Hospitalization
"Document preparation seems complicated..." is a reason many people postpone treatment. However, in reality, it is much simpler than you might think. According to Chungcheongnam-do Korean Medicine Association public guidance materials, the medical institution can directly handle the guarantee of payment procedures by simply providing a traffic accident registration number or the contact information of the other party's insurance adjuster. Patients do not need to gather documents themselves.
Nearby Dongtanryeok, Noble I Korean medicine clinic conducts integrated treatment that connects medicinal acupuncture, chuna therapy, and hospitalization recovery in one flow immediately after traffic accident registration.
The flow from visit to hospitalization is as follows.
▪ STEP 1 — Visit with traffic accident registration number or insurance company contact information
Treatment can begin without a receipt or diagnostic certificate.
▪ STEP 2 — Korean medicine clinic directly applies for guarantee of payment
Direct settlement procedures between the insurance company and medical institution are conducted.
▪ STEP 3 — Diagnosis and initial treatment begin
Treatment plans are established based on the accident site and pain patterns, including acupuncture, medicinal acupuncture, and chuna therapy.
▪ STEP 4 — Decision on hospitalization
Based on medical staff opinion, patients are connected to either outpatient or hospitalization treatment.
▪ STEP 5 — Discharge and follow-up management
After treatment conclusion, necessary documents can be guided during the settlement process with the insurance company.
Things to Confirm Before Procedure
Before beginning hospitalization treatment, checking the following items in advance can reduce unnecessary disputes and additional costs.
▪ Confirm fault ratio
Depending on your fault ratio, your insurance company may need to cover the corresponding treatment costs. Understand the fault ratio first after accident registration.
▪ Confirm if non-covered tonic items are included
According to clinical materials, high-cost herbal medicines or non-covered items added for tonic purposes can cause cost disputes with insurance companies. Confirm in advance with medical staff which items are covered by insurance.
▪ Disclose existing conditions
According to related clinical materials, patients with existing conditions may experience greater pain from minor impacts. Accurate disclosure is necessary for appropriate treatment planning and insurance processing.
▪ Visit as soon as possible after accident
Even if symptoms appear mild, disputes may arise as time passes regarding the treatment start time. Early visit is recommended.
▪ Medical staff opinion takes precedence on treatment possibility
The decision on hospitalization necessity should be based on medical staff opinion rather than self-judgment.
Residents of Dongtanrieupdosi 2, Byeongjeon in Hwaseong, Osan, Yeongtong in Suwon, and Hyangnam can also use hospitalization treatment at a Dongtanryeok Korean medicine clinic. If distance and travel are burdensome, confirm first through phone consultation before visiting.
Dongtanryeok Traffic Accident Treatment, We Provide Step-by-Step Consultation from the Beginning
At Dongtanryeok Noble I Korean medicine clinic, we provide step-by-step consultation from insurance processing to recovery planning.
If you neglect the injury after an accident because the pain feels mild at first, it can lead to aftereffects. In fact, according to the Insurance Research Institute research report (2024), in the case of Korean medicine hospitalization treatment, the length of hospitalization tends to be statistically longer, so starting treatment early is advantageous for recovery. After a traffic accident, symptoms may manifest a few days later, or mild pain from the initial stage may worsen as time passes.
You only need to bring the insurance registration number. You can start treatment with no patient responsibility—guidance on the procedure, through the entire treatment plan from medicinal acupuncture, chuna therapy, and hospitalization recovery can all be confirmed together. If you feel lost about where to start after an accident, visit first and discuss with medical staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is there absolutely no patient responsibility when hospitalized at a Korean medicine clinic with auto insurance?
In principle, if the accident is 100% due to the other party's negligence, the insurance company bears all treatment costs. However, if you bear partial fault or if non-covered items for tonic purposes are included, those costs may incur separately. Confirming items with medical staff before hospitalization can reduce unexpected burdens.
Q2. Can I visit both a Korean medicine clinic and a Western medicine hospital simultaneously while having insurance processed?
Simultaneously claiming from both a Korean medicine clinic and a Western medicine hospital on the same day is impossible in many cases, but each specific case varies. You can confirm through initial consultation.
Q3. Do I really need Korean medicine clinic hospitalization treatment even for a minor accident?
The decision on hospitalization necessity should be based on medical staff opinion rather than self-judgment. Since traffic accident symptoms often manifest or worsen days after the accident rather than on the day of the accident itself, even if it feels mild at first, early visit to confirm your condition can be advantageous for recovery.
Suitability for procedures is determined after treatment consultation.