Appropriate for 300 billion cases of vaccine cost…野 “It’s free and then lies”

A COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed and distributed by Pfizer and Biontech. [AFP]

Controversy is growing as the government decided to partially cover the cost from the Health Insurance Fund to purchase a vaccine for the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). The opposition party criticized President Moon Jae-in and other passports for promoting “I will vaccinate the entire population for free.”

On the morning of the morning of the 16th, Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun said, “We have confirmed the introduction of a total of 79 million vaccines by adding 23 million people to the existing 56 million people.” According to the government’s explanation, in this case, a total of 3.4 trillion won will be required. The government plans to cover 90% of that, or 3,100 billion won, from the national budget, and the remaining 10%, or 300 billion won, from the health insurance fund.

The problem is that the national budget filled with taxes and the health insurance fund collected through health insurance premiums are quite different. Social insurance such as National Pension, Health Insurance, and Employment Insurance shall be borne by the beneficiary in principle. This means that the insured should pay the premium accordingly as the insured benefits. On the other hand, taxes are levied based on their ability to pay, regardless of the benefits returned to the taxpayer. This is why the national finance and social insurance funds were separated.

Rep. Doo-Hyun Yoon, the power of the people. Reporter Oh Jong-taek

In this regard, at the National Assembly Political Affairs Committee held on that day, opposition lawmakers continued to criticize Gu Yoon-cheol, head of the State Affairs Coordination Office (ministerial level). Rep. Doo-Hyun Yoon pointed out, “Is it a proper policy if we set it as a free vaccination and eventually pay it all later (through health insurance payments)?” Then, Director Koo replied, “One in finance, one in health, and in the end, this is the burden of the people.” When Rep. Yoon asked again, “Why do they pay their conscience while talking about the burden of the public,” Goo confronted him, saying, “If you don’t pay 300 billion won in health insurance, the state has to issue bonds, so you have to pay more interest.”

Rep. Seong Il-jong of the same party said, “The president said that he would be vaccinated free of charge for all citizens,” and said, “The ruling party lawmakers posted a free vaccination banner for all citizens (on the Lunar New Year holiday). Regarding this, Mr. Koo said, “I’m not lying,” and said, “The President’s remarks mean that (direct money) does not come out of the pockets of the people.”

Senator Seong said, “Many people have lied since the president said it was free, and someone should apologize whether it was administratively wrong or wrongly spoken.”

Reporter Heo Jin [email protected]