The renewal validity period for long-term care grades received by seniors aged 65 and older and 'senior patients' under 65 with degenerative diseases will be extended. Long-term care grading requires reevaluation two years after the initial judgment, and if a grade 1 is assigned, the renewal will not have to be done for 5 years, while grades 2-4 will not require renewal for 4 years. The previous validity periods were shorter.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare noted that a proposal to amend the long-term care insurance law for the elderly, reflecting this content, was approved at a cabinet meeting and is set to be implemented on the 24th.

On May 27th, an elderly person is holding onto a handrail while going down the stairs at a subway station in Seoul. The photo is not directly related to the news content. /Courtesy of News1

The long-term care grade indicates how much assistance a person aged 65 or older, or a person under 65 with degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, needs in daily life. The National Health Insurance Service evaluates grades 1-5 (including cognitive support grades), and the content and amount of long-term care benefit support vary depending on this grading.

For example, long-term care grade 1 is a stage that requires 'complete assistance,' indicating a need for help in personal hygiene, position changes, waste management, or spending the entire day lying in bed.

Until now, the short renewal cycle had caused inconveniences. Until now, only those who received the same grade in the assessment conducted two years after the initial evaluation were guaranteed a renewal validity period of 4 years for grade 1 and 3 years for grades 2-4. However, going forward, even if they do not maintain the same grade, if they are assessed as grade 1, they will not have to renew for 5 years, and if assessed as grades 2-4, they will not have to renew for 4 years.

Long-term care insurance grade system. /Courtesy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare

A Ministry official said, "This revision is a measure to reduce the inconvenience faced by long-term care recipients and their families due to repeated renewal procedures such as document submissions and visitation investigations," adding, "Current recipients of grades 1-4, who have completed prior renewals, will see their grade validity period extended according to their current grade, regardless of the grade just before renewal."

The extension of the renewal validity period will be uniformly reflected through the National Health Insurance Service. Recipients do not need to apply separately. Recipients can check the changed grade validity periods on the long-term care insurance website, mobile application, Government 24 website, and through individual mail notifications.