KVHS Guide
Service Overview (Six VHS Hospitals and Orthotic & Prosthetic Centers)
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation for persons of distinguished service to the state and their bereaved families
- Screening and medical treatment for defoliant-related conditions
- Physical examination for persons of distinguished service to the state – disability rating assessment
- Medical treatment for residents (health insurance and medical aid patients)
Medical Care System
- Medical treatment for persons of distinguished service to the state and their bereaved families is provided at the VHS Hospital with jurisdiction over their place of residence
- Designated general hospitals provide outsourced medical care to facilitate treatment for persons of distinguished service to the state residing far from VHS Hospitals
- Patients with special diseases are referred to specialized hospitals for outsourced medical care
Eligible Patients
| Category | Target | Medical Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government-Funded Patients | Veterans, Grades 1–7 (Patriots, soldiers and police officials wounded in action or on active duty; individuals injured in the April 19 Revolution; public officials wounded on active duty; June 18 Wounded Freedom Seekers; individuals injured in the May 18 Democratization Movement; voluntary soldiers or police officials wounded on active duty; voluntary public officials wounded on active duty; soldiers, police officials, and public officials injured by disaster) |
Exempted | |
| New Registrants After July 1, 2012: Veterans, Grade 7 New Registrants After June 23, 2016: Individuals with mild potential aftereffects of defoliants (including second-generation), Grades 12–14 among individuals injured in the May 18 Democratization Movement, and Grade 7 among persons injured while performing a special mission |
Service-related injury (10% co-payment for non-service-related treatment) |
||
| Aftereffects of defoliants | Grade assessment | Exempted | |
| Unclassified | Recognized conditions | ||
| Persons with a minor injury in service | Service-related injury | ||
| Patients Eligible for Reduced Fees | Student soldiers in Japan who volunteered in the Korean War | Exempted | |
| Veterans(recipients of military merit and national security merit) and their bereaved families | 60% exemption | ||
| Veterans(war veterans) | 90% exemption | ||
| Founding members of the armed forces and long-term service veterans (10 years or more) | 50% exemption | ||
| General Patients | Health insurance and medical aid patients, etc. | ||
| Patients Who Contributed to the Nation and Society | (Current and former) Firefighters, coast guard officers, police officers, judicial officials, persons from prestigious military service families fulfilling military service, and military personnel * Police officers, firefighters, coast guard officers, and judicial officials who retired after serving more than 10 years on active duty |
30% exemption | |
Definition of Government-Funded and Reduced-Fee Medical Care Recipients
Government-Funded Medical Care Recipients
| Category | Definition of Recipients |
|---|---|
| Patriot | An individual who resisted as part of the independence movement before August 15, 1945, and who has been awarded the Order of Merit for the National Foundation, the National Foundation Medal, or a Presidential Commendation |
| Soldiers or Police Officials Wounded in Action |
Individuals who sustained injuries while performing combat duties as military personnel or police officers |
| Soldiers or Police Officials Wounded on Active Duty |
Individuals who sustained injuries while performing official duties as military personnel or police officers |
| Individuals Injured in the April 19 Revolution |
Individuals who participated in the April 19, 1960 Revolution and sustained injuries |
| Public Officials Wounded on Active Duty |
Individuals who sustained injuries while performing official duties as public officials |
| Special Contributors to National and Social Development |
Individuals who have made notable contributions to national and social development and have been approved by the Cabinet |
| June 18 Wounded Freedom Seekers |
Individuals who, as North Korean military personnel or government officials, were taken prisoner by the Republic of Korea or UN forces between June 25, 1950, and July 23, 1953, and who have been designated as June·18 Wounded Freedom Seekers by the Veterans Review Board |
| Persons Injured While Performing a Special Mission |
Individuals who sustained injuries while performing special missions |
| Soldiers or Police Officials Wounded in Action or on Active Duty Who Have Not Been Granted a Disability Rating |
Individuals who applied as soldiers or police officials wounded in action or on duty, individuals wounded in the April 19 Revolution, public officials wounded on duty, special contributors wounded on active duty, June 18 Wounded Freedom Seekers, or Civilian-Military Employees, and who did not receive a disability rating in the physical examination conducted by the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs |
| Patients of Actual Aftereffects of Defoliants | Individuals who participated in the Vietnam War or served in the Southern Limit Line area and developed diseases related to the aftereffects of defoliants |
| Patients With Potential Aftereffects Of Defoliants | Individuals who participated in the Vietnam War or served in the Southern Limit Line area and developed diseases related to potential aftereffects of defoliants |
| Second-Generation Patient Suffering From Actual Aftereffects of Defoliants | Children of patients with actual aftereffects of defoliants who have developed second-generation conditions |
| Persons Wounded in the May 18 Democratization Movement | Individuals who were injured or suffer from diseases related to the May 18 Democratization Movement |
| Soldiers or Police Official Wounded by Disaster | Individuals who sustained injuries while performing duties or training as military personnel, police, or fire-fighting officials, not directly related to national defense, security, or the protection of citizens’ lives and property |
| Public Officials Wounded by Disaster | Public officials (excluding military and police officers) who sustained injuries while performing duties or undergoing training not directly related to the protection of citizens’ lives and property |
| Soldiers or Police Officials Wounded by Disaster Who Have Not Been Granted a Disability Rating | Individuals who applied as soldiers, police officials, or public officials wounded in a disaster are not assigned a disability rating in the physical examination conducted by the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs |
| Discharged Soldiers Wounded by Disaster Who Have Not Been Granted a Disability Rating | Discharged soldiers who sustained a disaster-related injury but were not assigned a disability rating |
Persons Eligible for Reduced Medical Fees
Individuals who performed special missions and their bereaved family members
| Category | Definition of Recipients |
|---|---|
| Student Soldiers in Japan Who Volunteered for the Korean War |
Citizens of the Republic of Korea residing in Japan who volunteered for enlistment, served during the Korean War (June 25, 1950–July 27, 1953), and was discharged (100% exemption) |
| Recipients of the Order of Military Merit or the Order of National Security Merit |
Individuals who received the Order of Military Merit or the Order of National Security Merit |
| Special Contributors to National and Social Development |
Individuals who have made remarkable contributions to national or social development approved by the Cabinet |
| Bereaved Families |
|
| Founding Members of the Armed Forces and Long-Term Service Veterans |
Individuals who participated in the establishment of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and were subsequently discharged Discharged military personnel with over 10 years of long-term service |
| War Veterans |
Korean War veterans and police officers Vietnam War veterans |
| Bereaved Families and Relatives of Those Injured in the May 18 Democratization Movement |
Family members of those who died or went missing in connection with the May 18 Democratization Movement, or of individuals recognized as deceased due to the aftereffects of diseases caused by the movement and compensated accordingly Family members of individuals who were injured or suffering from diseases related to the May 18 Democratization Movement and have received compensation |
| Victims of the May 18 Democratization Movement |
Other individuals who received support related to the May 18 Democratization Movement |
| Related to a Person Who Died While Performing a Special Mission or a Person of Distinguished Service for a Special Mission |
Bereaved family members of |
| Persons of Merit for the April 19 Revolution |
Individuals who participated in the April 19 Revolution and were awarded the National Foundation Medal |
| Spouse or Bereaved Family Members of June 18 Wounded Freedom Seekers |
Spouses, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings of June 18 Wounded Freedom Seekers |
| Individuals Who Developed Illnesses During Military Service |
Individuals who suffered from a disease that developed or worsened during military service and were subsequently discharged |
| Spouses of Persons Eligible for Veterans’ Compensation |
-Spouses of persons eligible for veterans’ compensation, spouses of military personnel who died in a disaster, and spouses of military personnel injured in a disaster who later died |
| Firefighting Officials |
Firefighting officials affiliated with the National Fire Agency and city/provincial fire departments Retired firefighting officials who served for more than 10 years |
| Korea Coast Guard Officers |
Public officials Retired Korea Coast Guard officers who served for more than 10 years |
| Police Officials |
Public officials affiliated with the Korean National Police Agency Retired police officials who served for more than 10 years |
| Persons From Prestigious Military Service Families Fulfilling Military Service |
Persons from prestigious military service families currently fulfilling military service |
| Military Personnel | Active-duty military personnel |
| Judicial Officials | Public officials affiliated with the Crime Prevention Policy Bureau, Korea Correctional Service, and Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice, and those who have retired after serving more than 10 years |
Contracted Medical Services (Designated Hospital Access for Patients’ Convenience)
| Category | Target | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Contracted Services |
Government-funded patients and patients aged 75 or older with health insurance eligible for fee reduction (war veterans and priority-order bereaved family members) | Veterans living far from a VHS Hospital → Assigned a nearby hospital |
| Specialized Referral | Government-funded patients | Treatment at the VHS Hospital is not feasible → Referral to a specialized hospital for treatment |
| Emergency Treatment | Government-funded patients (excluding minor injuries) | In case of emergency → Any medical facility nationwide |
| Outpatient Treatment | Government-funded patients (excluding minor injuries) | The designated contracted hospital does not offer the required medical specialty → Outpatient treatment at a nearby hospital |
Orthotic & Prosthetic Centers
- Manufacture and repair of various orthotics and prosthetics for persons of distinguished service to the state and persons with disabilities
- Orthotic & Prosthetic Centers operate under the VHS Medical Center and Branch Centers at Regional VHS Hospitals
Physical Examination for Veterans
- Physical examination for the classification of disability ratings for military personnel, police officers, and public officials who sustained injuries (disabilities) during the performance of their duties
- Physical examination for persons of distinguished service to the state or contributors who require reclassification of their disability rating due to changes in their injuries
Medical Examination on Aftereffects of Defoliants
- Screening for defoliant-related health effects in Vietnam War veterans who served in areas where defoliants were sprayed or served as war correspondents
- Includes those who served in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as Republic of Korea Armed Forces personnel (Jul. 1964 to Jan. 1972)
- Medical examination of second-generation patients of individuals diagnosed with defoliant-related conditions
