Gyeonggi Province Climate Insurance Heat-Related Illness Diagnosis Fees Surge 2.2-fold

Gyeonggi Province has announced that heat-related illness diagnosis fees disbursed through the "Gyeonggi Climate Insurance" this year have exceeded the cumulative disbursements from last year's climate insurance by more than twofold.

The disbursement results are attributed to the severe heat wave last summer. Gyeonggi Province announced on the 26th that it disbursed 224.8 million won for heat-related illness diagnosis fees in 1,472 cases from April 11 to October 21 this year. In 2025, the climate insurance had cumulatively disbursed 65.5 million won for heat-related illness diagnosis fees in 655 cases.

Gyeonggi Climate Insurance is a system that provides eligible provincial residents diagnosed with infectious diseases such as scrub typhus, Lyme disease, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome with a diagnosis fee of 200,000 won in accordance with coverage requirements.

As of October 21 this year, the total disbursements for Gyeonggi Climate Insurance amount to 259,410 cases and 752.2 million won. By category, medical outpatient visit fees for climate-vulnerable groups accounted for the largest share with 242,000 cases and 484 million won, followed by heat-related illness diagnosis fees.

Even after the summer heat wave subsides, Gyeonggi Province is actively promoting the coverage of climate insurance to prepare residents for seasonal climate risks, including autumn infectious diseases and winter cold waves.

In winter, coverage includes cold-related illnesses caused by cold waves and accidents from climate disasters such as heavy snowfall. Those diagnosed with cold-related illness receive 150,000 won, and those diagnosed for four weeks or longer due to climate disaster-related accidents occurring on days when weather special alerts are in effect receive accident consolation payments of 300,000 won.

Gyeonggi Climate Insurance automatically covers all residents with household registration in Gyeonggi Province without a separate enrollment process, and registered foreign nationals and foreign nationals of Korean descent are also included in the coverage.

Park Dae-geun, director of Gyeonggi Province's Environmental Health and Safety Division, said, "Many provincial residents affected by the severe heat wave this summer received support through Gyeonggi Climate Insurance," and added, "We are strengthening promotion to ensure residents receive necessary support for seasonal climate risks including autumn infectious diseases and winter cold waves."