How to Use Korea's Public Health Insurance as a Foreigner
How to Use Korea's Public Health Insurance as a Foreigner
Korea's National Health Insurance system covers virtually the entire population — including most foreigners on long-term visas. Once enrolled, it cuts the cost of hospital visits, prescriptions, and procedures significantly. Here's how it works, what it costs, and what you need to know as a foreign resident.
The Quick Answer
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| "This is what you actually receive when you enroll in Korea's NHIS as a foreigner: a paper notification letter (not a plastic card) + your Alien Registration Card (ARC). At hospitals, just show your ARC—no need to carry extra documents! |
If you've been in Korea for 6 months or more on a long-term visa and have completed your alien registration, you are almost certainly enrolled in — or will be enrolled in — the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS / 국민건강보험공단). Employed foreigners are enrolled automatically through their workplace. Other long-term residents join as local subscribers after 6 months. Premium rates mirror what Korean nationals pay, but foreign local subscribers face a minimum premium floor that is higher than what most low-income Korean residents pay.
Who Must Enroll
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As of July 2019, foreign nationals and overseas Koreans who are registered with Korean immigration and stay in Korea for 6 months or more are required to enroll in NHIS.
Enrollment is mandatory if:
- You hold a long-term visa (D, E, F, and similar categories)
- You have completed alien registration (외국인등록) or residence reporting (거소신고)
- You have been in Korea for 6 months or more
Exempted from enrollment:
- A-class visas (diplomatic)
- B-class visas (tourism, transit)
- C-class visas (short-term)
- Some G-1 visa holders
Immediate enrollment on arrival (no 6-month wait) applies to:
- D-2 (student), D-4-3 (language student at school), E-9 (non-professional employment), F-5 (permanent resident), F-6 (marriage migrant)
- These visa categories are enrolled from the first day of registration, not after 6 months
⚠️ Non-payment affects your visa. Unpaid premiums are linked to visa extension and residence permit renewals. Letting premiums go unpaid is not a low-risk option — it can directly affect your ability to stay in Korea.
Employee vs. Local Subscriber
There are two categories of NHIS membership, and which one applies to you determines how your premium is calculated.
Employee Subscriber (직장가입자)
If you work for a Korean employer covered by the 4 major insurance schemes, you are an employee subscriber from day one — no 6-month wait.
- Premium rate: Approximately 7% of your monthly salary (the exact rate adjusts slightly each year but has stayed in the 6.9%–7.1% range)
- Who pays: You and your employer split the premium 50/50 — roughly 3.5% each
- How it works: Your share is deducted from your paycheck automatically each month. Your employer handles the paperwork and payment. You don't need to do anything separately.
- Long-term care insurance: An additional ~0.9% of your health premium is added for long-term care (장기요양보험료), also split 50/50
Example: Monthly salary of ₩3,000,000 → health insurance premium approximately ₩210,000 total → you pay ₩105,000, employer pays ₩105,000.
Local Subscriber (지역가입자)
If you are not employed through a qualifying Korean employer — including self-employed, freelance, unemployed, or dependent on a spouse's income — you join as a local subscriber after your 6-month residency requirement is met.
- Premium calculation: Based on your income, property value, and vehicle ownership, using a points system
- Who pays: You pay 100% of the premium — there is no employer to split costs with
- Minimum premium floor for foreigners: This is the key difference from Korean local subscribers
The Minimum Premium Floor — Important for Foreign Local Subscribers
Korean local subscribers can end up paying very low premiums if their income and assets are minimal. Foreign local subscribers cannot — there is a legally mandated floor.
The minimum premium for foreign local subscribers is set at the national average premium for all subscribers. Korean local subscribers with low income may pay below this average; foreign local subscribers cannot go below it.
In practical terms:
- Korean local subscriber (low income): may pay ₩9,000–₩50,000/month
- Foreign local subscriber (regardless of income): minimum approximately ₩150,000–₩160,000/month (including long-term care, based on 2025–2026 figures — this adjusts annually)
This is one of the most frequent complaints from foreign residents in Korea. The system is legally structured this way, and there is no general waiver for being new to the country or having low income.
Reductions that do apply to some foreigners:
| Visa / Status | Reduction |
|---|---|
| D-2 (student), D-4 (trainee), overseas student | 50% reduction |
| G-1-6, G-1-12, D-6 (religious) | 30% reduction |
| F-5 (permanent resident) | Same calculation as Korean local subscriber |
| Refugee status (F-2-4) and family | No minimum floor — calculated same as Koreans |
Dependents (피부양자)
If you are an employee subscriber, your spouse, children, and certain other family members can be registered as dependents on your insurance at no additional premium cost.
Important change since April 3, 2024: Foreign nationals and overseas Koreans who entered Korea after April 3, 2024, must have lived in Korea for 6 months before they can be registered as dependents on someone else's insurance.
Exceptions to the 6-month wait:
- Foreign spouses and children under 19 can be registered immediately regardless of when they arrived
- Holders of D-2, D-4-3, E-9, F-5, F-6 visas can also be registered immediately
What you need to register a dependent:
- Your NHIS membership number
- Dependent's ARC or passport
- Proof of family relationship — marriage certificate or birth certificate from your home country, translated and notarized or apostilled (documents issued abroad are valid for 9 months from authentication date)
How to Register
Employee Subscribers
Your employer handles registration when you start work. Check your pay stub — the deduction should appear as 건강보험 (health insurance) and 장기요양 (long-term care). If you don't see it after your first full month, ask your HR department.
Local Subscribers
You are enrolled automatically when your 6-month requirement is met (or immediately for qualifying visa types). NHIS will send a premium notice to your registered address.
If you need to check your enrollment status or register proactively:
- Visit any NHIS branch office with your ARC
- Call NHIS at 1577-1000 (Korean) or use the international inquiry line
- Use the The Health Insurance (더건강보험) app — available on App Store and Google Play, with English-language support
Documents for local subscriber enrollment:
- ARC (alien registration card)
- Passport
- Proof of address (lease agreement, utility bill, or equivalent)
What NHIS Covers
Once enrolled, NHIS covers a significant portion of most standard medical expenses. The exact coverage varies by treatment type.
Typical cost sharing (your portion):
- Primary care clinic (의원): 30% of the bill
- General hospital (병원): 40%
- Tertiary/university hospital (상급종합병원): 60%
- Prescription drugs at pharmacy: 30%
- Inpatient hospital stay: 20%
The higher your tier of hospital, the more you pay — this is intentional, to direct patients to clinics for routine care and reserve large hospitals for serious conditions.
What is covered:
- Doctor visits and consultations
- Diagnostic tests (X-ray, blood work, MRI/CT in most cases)
- Surgery and inpatient treatment
- Prescription medications
- Dental treatment — basic procedures (fillings, root canals, extractions) for adults; more comprehensive coverage for children under 18 and adults 65+
- Oriental medicine (한방) at licensed clinics — partial coverage
What is NOT covered:
- Cosmetic procedures (double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, Botox for non-medical purposes)
- Laser hair removal and similar aesthetic treatments
- Most orthodontic and prosthetic dental work (braces, implants, crowns) for adults under 65
- Certain non-standard medications and supplements
- Private room charges above standard ward rates
- Most elective screening packages beyond basic checkups
How to Use Your Insurance at a Hospital
Step 1: Choose the Right Level of Hospital
For routine concerns — a cold, minor injury, skin issue, digestive problem — go to a clinic (의원) rather than a hospital. Your out-of-pocket cost is lower (30% vs 40–60%), wait times are shorter, and clinics are everywhere.
For more serious issues or specialist care, start with a clinic and get a referral to a hospital if needed. Going directly to a large university hospital without a referral is allowed but significantly more expensive.
Step 2: Bring Your ARC
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At registration, present your ARC (or ARC number). The staff will verify your insurance status. You don't need a physical insurance card — your ARC number is linked to your NHIS account.
Step 3: Pay Your Share
After the consultation, pay your share at the counter (typically 30–60% of the cost). The rest is billed directly to NHIS.
Step 4: Get Your Prescription Filled at a Pharmacy
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Prescriptions are filled at pharmacies (약국), not at the clinic. Take your prescription to any pharmacy — there are almost always several near any clinic. Present your ARC and pay approximately 30% of the drug cost.
Finding English-Speaking Medical Care
Most clinics in Korea operate in Korean. For routine care in larger cities, using Papago or Google Translate for basic communication is workable. For more complex consultations, finding an English-speaking doctor is worth the extra effort.
Resources:
- Medigo / GoodDoc / 1339 Medical Information Service — English-language medical referral and information
- International clinics at major university hospitals — Severance International Health Care Center, Samsung Medical Center International Clinic, Asan Medical Center — all offer English-language consultations
- 1339 Health Information Hotline — available 24/7 for health questions; English support available
Premium Payment
Premiums are due by the 25th of each month.
Payment methods:
- Automatic bank transfer (auto-debit) — most convenient option
- Virtual account transfer
- Bank counter
- Credit card at NHIS branch
- The Health Insurance app
If you miss a payment, NHIS sends a follow-up notice. Persistent non-payment leads to suspension of benefits — meaning you'll pay 100% of medical costs until the account is cleared. And as noted above, non-payment can affect visa renewal.
Leaving Korea — Refunds and Exit Processing
If you leave Korea permanently or your visa expires, overpaid premiums can be refunded. Contact NHIS before or after departure to request a refund calculation.
If you are temporarily leaving Korea (travel, family visit), your insurance continues to apply when you return — there's no suspension for short absences.
FAQ
Q: Do I have to enroll right away, or can I wait until I get sick? Enrollment isn't optional — it happens automatically based on your visa status and length of stay. If you're an employee, it starts with your job. If you're a local subscriber, it starts after 6 months. You don't choose when to enroll.
Q: Why is the minimum premium for foreign local subscribers so high? Foreign local subscribers are subject to a minimum premium floor set at the national average for all subscribers. Korean local subscribers with low income can pay below this floor; foreign local subscribers cannot. This is a known point of contention among foreign residents, and there have been legal challenges to the rule — but as of 2026, the floor remains in place. Students on D-2 visas get a 50% reduction, which brings the effective minimum down significantly.
Q: Can my spouse and children be covered under my insurance? Yes, as dependents (피부양자). If they entered Korea after April 3, 2024, they generally need to have been in Korea for 6 months first — unless they're your spouse or a child under 19, in which case they can be registered immediately.
Q: What happens if I don't pay? Benefits are suspended until you pay. You'll be responsible for 100% of medical costs during the suspension period. More practically, unpaid premiums can affect your visa extension and residence permit — immigration checks insurance payment status.
Q: Is dental care covered? Basic dental procedures are partially covered — fillings, root canals, extractions. Implants, braces, and most cosmetic dental work are not covered for most adults. Coverage for children and seniors (65+) is broader.
Q: Can I use my home country's travel insurance instead? Travel insurance can supplement Korean NHIS coverage but doesn't replace it — you're still required to enroll in NHIS if you meet the conditions. Travel insurance is useful for covering the gap between NHIS and 100% costs, especially for procedures with low NHIS coverage.
Q: How do I check my premium amount or payment history? Download the 더건강보험 (The Health Insurance) app, or log in at nhis.or.kr. Premium notices are also mailed to your registered address monthly.
Related Posts
- How to Register Your Address in Korea (ARC Guide)
- How to Open a Bank Account in Korea Without Korean ID
- Renting a Room in Korea: What Foreigners Need to Know
Bookmark this page before your first hospital visit in Korea — it covers everything from enrollment to the pharmacy.
Have questions? Drop them in the comments — we'll help you figure it out.
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