Gwangmyeong City Expands Dementia Treatment Management Fee Support, Relaxes Eligibility Criteria

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] Gwangmyeong City announced on the 12th that it has expanded the scope of beneficiaries by relaxing the eligibility criteria for dementia treatment management fee support, enabling more residents to benefit from the program.

The city provides year-round support for medication and medical care expenses to residents diagnosed with dementia who are taking cognitive preservation medication.

Support is provided on an out-of-pocket basis up to a maximum of 30,000 won per month and 360,000 won annually. The relaxed criteria are expected to lower the threshold for accessing support.

Previously, the city had selected beneficiaries based on the health insurance premiums of children who lived together or bore insurance expenses. However, beginning in 2026, in accordance with the 'Gyeonggi Province Dementia Care Package' project guidelines, the combined recognized income (income and asset standards) of elderly couples will be changed from 120% of the standard median income to 140% of the standard median income.

As a result, some residents who previously could not receive support due to exceeding the income threshold are expected to newly benefit from the program. In fact, following an income survey conducted by the city, approximately 40 additional residents are projected to be included as beneficiaries of dementia treatment management fee support due to the relaxed criteria.

The Gwangmyeong Dementia Relief Center is expanding guidance through phone calls and text messages to residents previously excluded from the support program, and actively encouraging applications for dementia treatment management fees.

Residents wishing to apply can visit a nearby Dementia Relief Center at any time during the year with their identification and prescription documents to receive counseling and complete an application form.

After confirmation of recognized income, those who meet the conditions will be final selected as beneficiaries. However, those receiving medical expense support through other systems such as veteran medical support will be excluded.

Park Hae-kwon, director of the Health Policy Division, stated, "If patients consistently take dementia medication and maintain regular daily routines, they can slow the progression of the disease and maintain relatively independent daily life in a familiar environment even after a dementia diagnosis. For families or acquaintances experiencing memory decline, we recommend seeking early consultation."

For more information, contact the Gwangmyeong Dementia Relief Center's Soha-dong Center (02-2680-5830) or Gwangmyeong-dong Center (02-2680-5502).