Next year's national health insurance fees will be frozen for the first time since the system went into effect in 2000. The decision was made in a policy committee meeting, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said Thursday.

Fees rose 20 percent in 2001, a year after universal heath insurance came into effect. They have since risen every year by between 2.38 percent and 6.7 percent.

The government decided to freeze them in response to demands of subscribers, such as labor, civic groups and businesses in view of the lean times ahead.

But the ministry decided to expand coverage and upgrade the service level next year. It will lessen the burden on low-income and middle-class earners for medical treatment; halve medical costs for patients with rare or incurable diseases or cancer patients; and extend benefits to patients for Oriental medical therapies or for tooth fillings.

(englishnews@chosun.com )