This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Service Act.
Are you receiving treatment after a traffic accident and have heard that "you need to submit a diagnostic certificate after 4 weeks"? When talk of paperwork suddenly comes up, you might feel overwhelmed about where to start. In this article, I will explain step by step why a 4-week diagnostic certificate is necessary and in what order you should prepare it, tailored to the situation of those continuing traffic accident treatment in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu.
Why a Diagnostic Certificate Is Needed After 4 Weeks During Traffic Accident Treatment
To state the conclusion first, with the revision of the standard automobile insurance policy in January 2023, minor injury patients (injury grades 12-14) are now required to submit a diagnostic certificate to maintain payment guarantee for additional treatment costs starting 4 weeks (28 days) from the accident date.
This change is the result of institutional reform led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. According to related reports such as Josei Ilbo, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport established the basic payment guarantee period for minor injury patients as 4 weeks starting in 2023, and revised the standard automobile insurance policy to require submission of an additional diagnostic certificate when treatment continues beyond 4 weeks. Previously, with just one initial diagnostic certificate, treatment costs could be maintained for a relatively long period, but the structure changed after the policy revision.
However, if your injury grade is not 12-14 (minor injury) but a higher grade of serious injury, the application criteria may be different, so it is important to first confirm your injury grade and your insurance company's guidance.
💡 Simple Summary
- Minor injury (injury grade 12-14): Treatment beyond 4 weeks from accident date → Submission of diagnostic certificate required
- Other grades such as serious injury: Criteria vary by insurance company → Direct confirmation with your insurance company necessary
4-Week Diagnostic Certificate Preparation — Complete Step-by-Step Procedure
The most critical point in preparing a 4-week diagnostic certificate is obtaining and submitting the diagnostic certificate to the insurance company before 4 weeks (28 days) expire. According to the Financial Supervisory Service's 2023 Automobile Insurance Guidance, if the diagnostic certificate is not submitted even after 28 days have passed, the payment guarantee may be suspended, and treatment costs during that period cannot be easily obtained through retroactive compensation.
Following the steps below can reduce gaps in treatment.
— STEP 1. Confirm the date exactly 28 days from the accident date Mark on a calendar the date that is exactly 28 days from the accident date. All document preparation must be completed before this date.
— STEP 2. Request an additional diagnostic certificate from your current medical facility Tell your doctor (or Korean medicine doctor) that "an additional diagnostic certificate is needed for treatment beyond 4 weeks." The diagnostic certificate must specifically state current symptoms and future treatment period. According to related materials, a diagnostic certificate with a clear future treatment period is more likely to be processed smoothly in insurance company review than vague expressions like "follow-up observation required."
— STEP 3. Submit the diagnostic certificate to the insurance company (by fax or photo) Submit the issued diagnostic certificate to your insurance company representative by fax or photo transmission. Be sure to confirm receipt after submission.
— STEP 4. Confirm payment guarantee extension The payment guarantee is extended for the future treatment period (typically in 2-week units) stated in the diagnostic certificate. If more treatment is needed later, the same method allows for stepwise repeated applications.
— STEP 5. Check diagnostic certificate issuance costs for treatment exceeding 8 weeks According to related information, when treatment exceeds 8 weeks, the method of bearing diagnostic certificate issuance costs may change, so it is good to check separately with the insurance company or mutual aid association at this point.
Treatment suitability is determined after consultation.
How to Continue Traffic Accident Treatment at Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic
Many people wonder whether they can receive traffic accident treatment at a Korean medicine clinic. According to the Official Guidance from Chungcheongnam-do Korean Medicine Association, traffic accident patients can use Korean medicine treatments such as acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, chuna therapy, and herbal medicine without personal cost through automobile insurance. Additionally, according to related clinical information, the Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Society clinical guidelines present evidence for applying acupuncture treatment to patients with traffic accident-related cervical spine injuries.
The table below summarizes available traffic accident-related treatment items and application methods at Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic.
| Treatment Item | Automobile Insurance Application | Main Content |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture Treatment | ✔ Applied | Cervical spine and musculoskeletal injury, pain relief |
| Herbal Acupuncture | ✔ Applied | Management of sudden muscle tension and stiffness |
| Chuna Therapy | ✔ Applied (Maximum 20 sessions per accident) | Spinal and joint correction, skilled procedures |
| Individual Customized Herbal Medicine | ✔ Applied | Stasis removal purpose, 3-week individual prescription |
| Zero-Gravity Decompression Therapy | Continuous care after 20 chuna sessions complete | Continued management possible even after chuna sessions exhausted |
| Affiliated Hospital Imaging Test Coordination | Insurance company confirmation required | MRI, X-ray, etc., coordination available after 1 week from accident date |
Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic (formerly Gwangdeok Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic Gangbuk Suyu Branch) operates on the principle of weekly customized prescriptions and skilled chuna therapy, providing systematic aftereffect management aligned with the diagnostic certificate renewal cycle. Even after all 20 insurance-covered chuna therapy sessions are completed, continuous care using zero-gravity decompression equipment can maintain the recovery process without treatment gaps.
Before Extending Treatment, First Verify Your Situation Applies
Before preparing the diagnostic certificate, check the following three situations first.
— ① Does your injury grade fall under minor injury (grades 12-14)? The diagnostic certificate submission requirement at the 4-week mark primarily applies to minor injury patients. Check your injury grade in your diagnostic certificate or accident confirmation document, or contact your insurance company representative.
— ② Have less than 28 days passed since the accident date? To maintain payment guarantee, the diagnostic certificate must be submitted before day 28. If 28 days have already passed, contacting the insurance company immediately to explain your situation is the first priority.
— ③ Can the medical facility where you are currently being treated issue an additional diagnostic certificate? A Korean medicine clinic can also issue diagnostic certificates. However, if you are visiting a medical facility for the first time, issuance may be difficult due to lack of existing treatment records, so it is advisable to first inquire with the medical facility where you are continuing treatment.
There is one more thing it would be good to know. According to clinical materials, traffic accident aftereffects often become serious days or weeks after the accident rather than immediately following it, so it is important to start treatment early and continue it consistently. According to a DoctorsNews report, 90% of minor injury patients meeting Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport standards complete treatment within 8 weeks, but the remaining 10% require treatment beyond that period. The future treatment period stated in the diagnostic certificate is not a treatment limitation period, and extensions can be requested based on medical staff's judgment.
For those residing in the Gangbuk-gu area including near Suyu Station, Beon-dong, and Mia-dong, it is helpful to consistently seek management at a nearby Korean medicine clinic that operates 365 days from 8 a.m. through evening hours to prevent gaps in treatment. If you are looking for a Korean medicine clinic near Suyu Station, considering traffic accident treatment in Beon-dong, or searching for an automobile insurance Korean medicine clinic in Mia-dong, consider both accessibility and continuity of care.
If You're Unsure Where to Continue Receiving Treatment for Traffic Accident Aftereffects in Gangbuk-gu
If you feel overwhelmed about where and how to continue treatment after a traffic accident, Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic will help you verify the automobile insurance application process and related matters step by step.
From preparing your 4-week diagnostic certificate to subsequent treatment extensions, you can receive guidance on automobile insurance registration, diagnostic certificate coordination, and comprehensive Korean medicine treatment all in one place. Consultations begin from 8 a.m. on weekdays, weekends, and holidays, so you can visit even before work, and you can conveniently make reservations through Naver without calling. The treatment space is configured as private individual rooms where you can receive treatment comfortably. Located near Exit 3 of Suyu Station, you can conveniently use the adjacent Garden Tower (328 Dobong-ro) parking lot free of charge for visits by personal vehicle.
Even after all 20 chuna therapy sessions are completed, continuous care using zero-gravity decompression equipment can manage your recovery process without interruption, so focus on recovery without worrying about treatment discontinuation.
Traffic Accident 4-Week Diagnostic Certificate, Questions Like This, Right?
Q1. If 4 weeks have already passed and I haven't received a diagnostic certificate, what happens to my treatment costs?
If the diagnostic certificate is not submitted even after 28 days have passed, the insurance company's payment guarantee may be suspended, and treatment costs during that period cannot easily be obtained through retroactive compensation. If the period has already passed, contact your insurance company representative without delay, and have a diagnostic certificate issued and submitted as quickly as possible from your current medical facility. The processing method may vary depending on the situation, so direct negotiation with your insurance company is recommended.
Q2. Can an additional diagnostic certificate be issued from any hospital, or only from the hospital where I first received treatment?
Legal regulations do not restrict diagnostic certificate issuance to the first medical facility you visited. It can be issued from any medical facility capable of providing automobile insurance treatment, including Korean medicine clinics. However, issuance may be difficult at a medical facility without treatment history records, so it is practical to first request it from the medical facility where you are continuing treatment.
Q3. If the diagnostic certificate states 2 weeks, can I only receive treatment for exactly 2 weeks?
The future treatment period stated in the diagnostic certificate is not the upper limit of treatment. After that period expires, if the medical staff determines that additional treatment is necessary, you can extend the payment guarantee again by issuing an additional diagnostic certificate in the same manner and submitting it to the insurance company. It is common to continue treatment through stepwise repeated applications at 2-week intervals.
Treatment suitability is determined after consultation