try to get a discount in advance...Increasing number of damage relief applications related to medical service advance payment
Jun 11, 2025
When consumers demand cancellation after signing several long-term medical contracts with medical institutions to receive advance discounts, they often fail to return the advance payment or receive refunds at an underestimated amount due to performed medical expenses or penalty deductions.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the number of damage relief related to medical service upfront medical expenses in the first quarter of 2022 to 2025 is increasing every year to 192 in 2022, 424 in 2023, 453 in 2024 (116 in the first quarter), and 129 in the first quarter of 2025. This was found to account for 35.2% of all cases of receiving damage relief from medical services.
From 2022 to the first quarter of 2025, dermatology (35.8%·429 cases) received the most damage relief related to advance medical expenses, followed by plastic surgery (29.2%), oriental medicine (16.5%), and dentistry (13.3%).
By reason for application, 83.7% (1003) of cases related to contract cancellation and cancellation and penalties accounted for, followed by 10.0% (120 cases) of side effects and 5.5% (66 cases) of non-fulfillment of the contract.
By processing results, 65.9% (790 cases) were handled by contract performance, contract cancellation, compensation or refund, and 33.9% (406) were not agreed upon, such as withdrawal of applications, information provision, and mediation applications.
The Korea Consumer Agency explained that when consumers request the termination of the contract after several long-term procedural contracts, the amount of refund that consumers receive may be significantly less than what consumers expect due to the penalty set by the medical institution and the full price deduction of all expenses performed before the termination. He then urged people to carefully sign a contract, check the composition, conditions, and detailed costs of the ▲ contract in advance because it is difficult to get medical expenses back after long-term/multiple contracts. In addition, he advised not to sign a contract with the medical institution if unfavorable conditions are identified, such as restrictions on the termination of the contract or provisions that excessively burden the obligation to restore the original state due to the termination or termination of the contract.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the number of damage relief related to medical service upfront medical expenses in the first quarter of 2022 to 2025 is increasing every year to 192 in 2022, 424 in 2023, 453 in 2024 (116 in the first quarter), and 129 in the first quarter of 2025. This was found to account for 35.2% of all cases of receiving damage relief from medical services.
|
By reason for application, 83.7% (1003) of cases related to contract cancellation and cancellation and penalties accounted for, followed by 10.0% (120 cases) of side effects and 5.5% (66 cases) of non-fulfillment of the contract.
By processing results, 65.9% (790 cases) were handled by contract performance, contract cancellation, compensation or refund, and 33.9% (406) were not agreed upon, such as withdrawal of applications, information provision, and mediation applications.
The Korea Consumer Agency explained that when consumers request the termination of the contract after several long-term procedural contracts, the amount of refund that consumers receive may be significantly less than what consumers expect due to the penalty set by the medical institution and the full price deduction of all expenses performed before the termination. He then urged people to carefully sign a contract, check the composition, conditions, and detailed costs of the ▲ contract in advance because it is difficult to get medical expenses back after long-term/multiple contracts. In addition, he advised not to sign a contract with the medical institution if unfavorable conditions are identified, such as restrictions on the termination of the contract or provisions that excessively burden the obligation to restore the original state due to the termination or termination of the contract.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
