Long-Term Care Benefit Payments Reach 17.7 Trillion Won as Korea Enters Super-Aged Society, Up 9.3% in One Year

NHIS Releases 2025 Long-Term Care Insurance Statistics
1,235,000 Recognized Beneficiaries... More Than 1 in 10 Seniors Over 65 Covered

With the transition into a super-aged society, the number of beneficiaries under the Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly has surpassed 1.2 million, and the annual long-term care benefit payments are approaching 17.7 trillion won.

According to the "2025 Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly Statistical Yearbook" published by the National Health Insurance Service on June 30, the number of recognized beneficiaries as of last year was 1,235,045, marking a 6.0% increase from the previous year. During the same period, the population of elderly individuals aged 65 or older covered by medical security reached 11,002,949, up by 5.8%. This means more than one out of every ten seniors in Korea is receiving benefits from the long-term care insurance program.

The Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly is a social insurance scheme that provides support for physical and household activities to seniors who have difficulty carrying out daily life independently due to old age or geriatric diseases. Elderly aged 65 or above, or those under 65 with geriatric diseases such as dementia, can apply. The eligibility and grade of service are determined through a review by the Long-Term Care Grading Committee.

Last year, a total of 1,550,961 people applied for recognition for long-term care, an increase of 4.9% from the previous year. Of these, 1,370,798 received a grading, bringing the recognition rate to 90.1%, which is a 0.6 percentage point increase year-on-year. For the first time since the program’s inception, the recognition rate has exceeded 90%.

By grade, Grade 4 beneficiaries accounted for the largest share with 577,572 people, or 46.8% of the total. This was followed by Grade 3 with 325,661 people (26.4%) and Grade 5 with 146,088 people (11.8%).

The amount of long-term care benefits paid has also continued to rise, reaching an all-time high. Last year, long-term care benefit payments totaled 17.684 trillion won, up 9.3% from the previous year. Compared to 2020, when the figure was 9.8248 trillion won, the benefits have grown by nearly 8 trillion won in five years, almost doubling in size.

Of this amount, the National Health Insurance Service covered 16.1618 trillion won, accounting for 91.4% of the total. The Service’s share of the burden increased by 9.4% year-on-year, and its coverage rate inched up from 91.3% in 2024 to 91.4% in 2025.

The number of benefit users reached 1,207,651, a 5.9% increase in one year, and the average monthly benefit cost per beneficiary was calculated at 1,540,280 won. Of this, the Service’s average monthly contribution was 1,407,693 won.

By service type, home-based (community) care, where beneficiaries remain at home while receiving services, accounted for 10.1897 trillion won, or 63.0% of the Service’s total burden. Institutional care, which is paid to nursing facilities for the elderly, accounted for 5.9455 trillion won, or 36.8%.

In particular, the growth rate of home-based care benefits was striking. Home-based care increased by 10.3% compared to 2024, outpacing the 8.0% rise in institutional care. Among detailed categories, home-visit nursing surged by 22.8% year-on-year to 60.4 billion won, posting the highest growth rate, while day and night care services also rose by 10.7% to 2.6415 trillion won.

At the end of last year, there were a total of 29,734 long-term care institutions nationwide, an increase of 676 (2.3%) from the previous year. Of these, home-based care institutions numbered 23,373, making up 78.6% of the total, while institutional care facilities totaled 6,361.

The workforce engaged in long-term care institutions also continued to grow. The total number of workers last year was 726,809, a 3.2% increase from the previous year. Nursing care aides (yoyangbohosa) accounted for 654,034, or 90.0% of the total, followed by social workers at 44,909 and nurse assistants at 17,300.

Last year, the long-term care insurance premiums levied on health insurance subscribers amounted to 11.2294 trillion won, a 4.2% increase from the previous year and the first time ever to exceed 11 trillion won. The amount collected was 11.1624 trillion won, up 4.4%, and the overall collection rate stood at 99.4%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.