Starting from the 10th, the so-called '8-Week Rule' will be implemented, requiring minor traffic accident injury patients to undergo a review of treatment necessity by a qualified medical professional if they seek treatment beyond eight weeks. The practice of routinely paying future treatment costs for minor injuries will be abolished, and only actual incurred treatment expenses will be covered.
According to the Financial Supervisory Service on the 2nd, a procedure to review the need for long-term treatment for minor injury patients will be introduced for car accidents occurring after the 10th, following revisions to the standard terms of automobile insurance. The move aims to prevent excessive payouts of insurance money to some patients.
The review applies to patients classified under injury grades 12–14 according to the Automobile Accident Compensation Guarantee Act who have been diagnosed with conditions such as sprains or simple contusions. Patients with serious injuries, including fractures or organ damage (injury grades 1–11), are not subject to this review. Infants and pregnant women are also excluded from the review due to considerations of potential sequelae risks.
To receive treatment beyond eight weeks, minor injury patients must submit a medical certificate, copies of medical records, and a consent form for the collection and use of personal information to their insurance company within seven weeks from the date of the accident. If imaging tests were conducted, an image CD must also be submitted.
The insurance company will forward the submitted documents to the Automobile Accident Compensation Promotion Agency, requesting a review of treatment necessity. The agency will notify the patient of the result within seven days from the request date after deliberation by qualified medical professionals. The insurance company will bear the costs of the review and the issuance of required documents.
The criteria for paying future treatment costs will also change. Going forward, future treatment payments will be made only to serious injury patients (injury grades 1–11) when medical necessity for future treatment is recognized and supported by relevant documentation. No future treatment payments will be made to minor injury patients.
The new criteria for future treatment costs will apply to contracts concluded under the revised terms after the 10th, as well as to policies with insurance periods starting on or after October 25. Insurance companies plan to inform policyholders of the changed standards at the time of enrollment, renewal, and accident reporting, and will additionally notify them of the long-term treatment review procedure during the third–fourth week and sixth–seventh week following an accident.
According to the Financial Supervisory Service, automobile insurance profitability has deteriorated from a deficit of 97 billion won in 2024 to a deficit of 708 billion won last year. A loss of 163.7 billion won was recorded between January and May this year. The Financial Supervisory Service aims to enhance the sustainability of automobile insurance by reducing insurance payout leaks and alleviate the premium burden on honest policyholders.
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