[아이뉴스24 임성원 기자] The insurance industry is paying attention to the fact that the incidence of dementia is increasing ahead of the entry into the super-aged society. In the 100-year-old era, they are busy to reflect the needs of various consumers, such as not wanting to burden their children’s generation with dementia care.
Recently, insurance companies are starting to develop differentiated coverage, such as preparing for dementia symptoms at an early stage or reducing the burden of caring for dementia. In particular, consumers are paying more attention to the sense of crisis that dementia symptoms can come from the 30s and 40s.
According to data from the National Statistical Office on the 12th, as of last year, the proportion of the elderly aged 65 and over in Korea stood at 16.5% and as of June this year, 17.6%, which is about to enter a super-aging society. A super-aging society is a case in which the elderly aged 65 and over account for more than 20% of the total population, and Korea is expected to enter a super-aging society in 2025.
Insurance companies are expanding the coverage of insurance for the elderly ahead of the entry into an aging society. Concentrating on the three major diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes is developing new coverage areas such as dementia.
According to the National Health Insurance Corporation, the number of dementia patients over the age of 65 in 2020 is 829,227, which is about 10.2% of that age group. Among a total of 1,895,712 people aged 80 and over, 536,708 (28.3%) were diagnosed with dementia. By 2050, the number of dementia patients is expected to reach 3,020,000.
Heungkuk Life recently launched ‘Heungkuk Life Dementia Coverage Insurance’, which provides intensive coverage from the early stage of dementia, starting with mild dementia. It took a different course from the existing dementia insurance, which focused on protecting severe dementia.
In particular, Heungkuk Life Insurance is the first insurance company to install a dementia prevention program in its products. It seems to have been noted that dementia symptoms occur even in those in their 30s and 40s. A dementia prevention program worth 1 million won will be provided for those who are diagnosed with mild dementia for subscribers of a separate special contract.
The program is conducted through ‘Super Brain’, a cognitive training program developed by Rowan, a digital treatment development company. It is a program that can be expected to have the effect of delaying the time to severe dementia as much as possible for patients with mild dementia. It consists of training that stimulates the brain of dementia patients by performing various tasks through a mobile application (app), and customized training that analyzes the patient’s condition using artificial intelligence (AI).
If mild dementia is diagnosed, home care services such as cognitive training, brain health exercise, and diet management are provided for one year.
ABL Life also recently introduced ‘ABL Dementia Care Insurance’, which provides medical care services necessary for dementia diagnosis while preventing dementia at an early stage. It provides services such as health counseling, name guidance, self-diagnosis and early diagnosis of dementia, and information on nursing facilities so that dementia can be detected at an early stage by checking the physical condition before the onset of dementia.
Even after the onset of dementia, according to the stage of dementia such as mild, moderate, severe, etc., accompaniment service for treatment at a tertiary general hospital, greeting calls for regular communication and emotional stability check, and housekeeping helpers are provided.
In addition, if the insured person is diagnosed with dementia, depending on the level of dementia, it is guaranteed to connect with caregivers and caregivers, accompany nurses, escort vehicles, and support housekeepers.
Previously, in April, NH Nonghyup Life Insurance was recognized for the exclusive right to use the ‘Paymental Alzheimer’s Dementia Treatment Special’, which provides intensive coverage for the insurance period rather than diagnosis to minimize the dementia coverage gap.
An official from the charity industry said, “We are differentiating from early dementia symptoms to insurance that can be prevented or prepared in advance. We will be able to meet the needs and lead the way,” he said.
/Reporter Im Seong-won([email protected])<!–
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