Average increase in loss insurance by 7.8%
th annual premium increase by 9,000 won
This year, along with the insurance premiums of indemnity medical insurance, auto insurance premiums have been decided to increase for the first time in five years. As both products are actually considered essential insurance, the burden on subscribers is expected to increase due to a series of premium hikes.
According to the insurance industry on the 18th, auto insurance premiums will rise all at once starting next month. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. decided to raise auto insurance premiums by 1.4 percent from Feb. 11 and Lotte Insurance Co. also decided to raise auto insurance premiums by 1.4 percent from March.
In addition, DB Insurance and Hyundai Marine Insurance will also raise 1.3% each from the 16th of next month. KB Insurance decided to raise 1.3% on the 18th of the same month and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance on the 21st, respectively.
Considering that the average auto insurance premium is about 690,000 won, it is expected to increase by about 9,000 won per year. The increased premium will be reflected from the commencement date of liability (the start date of insurance).
The insurance industry and financial authorities have initially cut premiums in succession over the past four years. The industry has cut insurance premiums for automobile insurance for four years, but the deficit continues to grow. The industry expects the auto insurance deficit to reach 700 billion won last year alone.
Initially, most non-life insurers expressed the need for a 2.5% increase, but it was decided to adjust to the 1% level after consultation with financial authorities. As it is an essential insurance, it has a large impact on the economy of the common people, so the increase was lowered as much as possible.
In loss medical insurance also increased by 7.8% on average this year
In addition, real loss insurance premiums will increase by 7.8% on average this year. The rate of increase in loss varies by generation of subscribed products. The first generation subscribers will increase by 3%, the second generation by 5%, the third generation by 16%, and the fourth generation by 20%. The initial (first generation) subscribers have a wider coverage, but they are paying higher premiums (compared to other generations), and the fourth generation has relatively lower premiums than other generations.
The industry explained that the increase in loss insurance premiums is inevitable as the deficit has grown at a time when overall medical expenses are rising. In other words, even if an individual does not go to the hospital, if the total amount of insurance claims increases, insurance premiums for all subscribers increase. The main reason this year was the increased loss ratio of loss of loss, he said.
However, some subscribers say that they do not have a history of car accidents and that they are burdened by rising insurance premiums every year even though they do not claim insurance money because they do not usually go to the hospital. Accordingly, some say that some subscribers should prevent over-treatment and insurance fraud to prevent insurance money leakage. In the end, the leakage of insurance money causes damage such as a rise in insurance premiums for good subscribers.
An industry official said, “If a minor patient in a car accident is to be treated for more than eight weeks, a revision bill that will be reviewed and a reorganization plan that prevents over-treatment of some subscribers is focused on preventing the leakage of insurance money.”

Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.

