District covers out-of-pocket costs for continuous glucose monitors, electrodes and insulin pumps — up to 1.24 million won
Children under 19 eligible regardless of income; retroactive claims accepted for devices purchased within the past year
Dongdaemun-gu is the only one of Seoul's 25 autonomous districts to subsidize out-of-pocket costs for diabetes management devices used by children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.
The district has been building a differentiated public health welfare model by proactively addressing the medical cost burden faced by families during childhood and adolescence.
Type 1 diabetes, which typically develops in childhood and adolescence, requires continuous insulin administration and blood sugar monitoring because the pancreas produces no insulin at all. Patients must draw blood and receive injections multiple times a day. Advanced devices such as continuous glucose monitors and automated insulin pumps can dramatically improve quality of life for young patients, but the annual cost — running into the millions of won — has long been a significant barrier for individual families.
In response, Dongdaemun-gu has moved to ease that burden by covering a substantial portion of the out-of-pocket costs for three types of devices: continuous glucose monitors, electrodes for continuous glucose monitoring, and automated insulin pumps.
The program is open to Type 1 diabetes patients (disease code E10) aged 19 or under who have lived in Dongdaemun-gu for at least six months as of the date of application. Patients under 19 are eligible regardless of household income and will receive 90 percent of their out-of-pocket costs covered, up to 850,000 won ($615). Those who are 19 years old and live in households earning up to 120 percent of the median income standard will receive 20 percent of their out-of-pocket costs covered, up to 1.24 million won.
The district has also eliminated gaps in coverage by guaranteeing retroactive support for devices already purchased within the past year. Residents wishing to apply should contact the Chronic Disease Management Team at the Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center.
The initiative goes beyond simple cost relief — it represents a meaningful step toward creating a "child diabetes safety environment" that allows young patients to grow up healthy and confident at school and in daily life.
"I feel a great sense of pride and fulfillment that Dongdaemun-gu has been the first among Seoul's autonomous districts to reach out to children and adolescents living with diabetes," District Mayor Choi Dong-min said. "We will be a strong support system so that parents no longer have to worry about their children's health because of the cost of expensive devices, and so that our children can break free from daily pain and pursue their dreams."
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