Caregiver loses appeal over $27,000 fraud for faking elderly care hours

A South Korean caregiver has lost a lawsuit challenging the government's demand for repayment of 37.4 million won ($27,000) in inflated elderly care fees. The National Health Insurance Service accused the care provider of overcharging for services between 2021 and 2023.

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It is difficult to accept the claim that they frequently went on late-night outings with the client couple, who were frail and severely demented, as a matter of common sense.

The caregiver, identified as Ms. A, allegedly registered more hours than she actually worked for a client couple. Investigations revealed she detached the time-tracking tag from the client's shoe cabinet and carried it in her car. She then used this to falsely register her work hours while running personal errands or being at home.

While the contract stipulated six visits per week, four hours each, Ms. A reportedly provided only about two hours of care daily. The care agency argued that the time tag was taken on outings with clients to record service end times. They claimed the clients were on walks and that service hours were met.

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Even if that were true, home care services are provided at home in principle.

However, the court dismissed these arguments. The judge found it difficult to believe the caregiver frequently took the elderly, frail, and severely demented couple on late-night outings. The court also emphasized that home care services are meant to be provided within the home. Exceptions for non-home locations are only permitted for specific reasons like hospital visits or official appointments, not for trips to beaches, parks, or cafes.

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There are only exceptions for providing services outside the home when there are special reasons such as accompanying a patient to the hospital or visiting a public office.