The discussion on covering hair loss treatments goes beyond simply the question of who will pay for the drug, and raises a philosophical question about how far the 'scope of disease' should be covered by the state. Currently, the hair loss treatment market is so large that it exceeds KRW 250 billion annually, and the number of patients continues to exceed 200,000 every year. In particular, the fact that the economically active population in their 20s to 40s accounts for more than half of the total demand proves that hair loss is recognized as a disease that goes beyond a simple aging phenomenon and has a serious impact on social relationships and self-esteem. Those in favor define this as essential treatment for survival and social reintegration and argue that the state should share the economic burden of being left uninsured. On the other hand, the opposing side strongly opposes, saying that limited health insurance funds should be focused on patients with life-threatening serious diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease, and that covering hair loss will ultimately lead to the side effect of increasing insurance premiums for all citizens.

Amid this controversy, the government announced a public deliberation process to collect direct opinions from the public by holding a 'Everyone's Debate' in early July. This can be interpreted as a determination to prioritize social consensus rather than unilateral policy implementation, but it will not be an easy decision in the face of financial reality. In fact, even if the out-of-pocket rate is set at 30%, it is estimated that approximately 180 billion won of additional finances will be needed per year, so a cool-headed analysis of the efficiency of financial investment must be conducted first. In some cases, instead of providing full benefits, a roundabout strategy of selectively supporting young people with weak economic bases or verifying satisfaction while minimizing financial burden through pilot projects is being proposed as an alternative. In the end, this debate is expected to go beyond a simple pros and cons and become an important milestone in reconciling the limits of equity and universal welfare that public healthcare should aim for.

Meanwhile, the insurance fraud crime that undermines the foundation of the social safety net is sounding a serious alarm in our society on a different level from the hair loss insurance controversy. The recent arrest of a group of people in their 30s who intentionally caused traffic accidents 77 times over 9 years in the Gyeyang-gu area of ​​Incheon and stole insurance money worth 150 million won clearly shows the seriousness of the incident. They used methods that cleverly exploited the blind spots of the law, such as holding a motorcycle close to a reversing vehicle or intentionally hitting the side mirror with an arm in a narrow alley. These insurance crimes are not simply an individual's deviance, but are a social evil that ultimately causes insurance premiums to rise for all insurance policy holders and adds to the economic burden on good citizens. The fact that the police launched a special crackdown on insurance fraud until the end of September means that this moral hazard has reached a level that can no longer be ignored.

Behind the insurance industry, along with the temptation of crime, there are also positive efforts to coexist with the local community. DB Insurance's completion of a new headquarters in Busan strengthens exchanges with the local community, and KB Insurance's participation as a main sponsor in the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' for patients with Lou Gehrig's disease reaffirms the social value of insurance. In addition, at the local government level, various insurance and institutional measures are being prepared for the safety of citizens, such as the Gwangju Seo-gu Office operating bicycle insurance for residents or expanding the reward system for reporting illegal activities in firefighting facilities. This suggests that insurance goes beyond simply being a means of receiving compensation in the event of an accident, and can perform a public function of strengthening the safety of the community and supporting the socially disadvantaged. Ultimately, the essence of insurance lies in the spirit of mutual assistance based on trust, not fraud, and a social surveillance network and a sense of corporate responsibility to protect this are more important than anything else.