Guidebook for Living in Korea
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Guidebook for Living in Korea
  • Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
  • Korean Institute for Healthy Family

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Foreigners’ required health insurance application

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Foreigners’ required health insurance application

01Outline of the system of non-Koreans’ ipso facto subscription to Health Insurance

Health Insurance is part of a social security system arranged to ease people’s burden when it comes to medical treatment. The insured should pay insurance premium every month, and he/she can receive insurance benefit when necessary.
Starting July 2019, all non-Koreans residing in this country for more than six months as registered aliens must subscribe to Health Insurance and Long-Term Care Insurance.

(1)Those subject to Health Insurance

Summary

① One working as an employee registered as an alien residing in Korea may subscribe to Health Insurance (as the employee insured) through separate application. The same is true for one relying on the employee insured for living (as a dependent).
② One not falling under the category stated in ① above may subscribe after residing in this country for six months. (Those with status of sojourn may subscribe upon arrival in this country.)
③ There is no difference in the amount of Health Insurance premium to be paid by non- Koreans and Koreans. There may be a difference in the amount paid by non-Koreans depending on the status of sojourn. ④ Any delay in the monthly payment of insurance premium may result in disadvantage to the insured. You may use one of the following for payment of the premium: automatic transfer, virtual account, at a bank, electronic method, at a branch of NHIC (using a credit card), premium collection portal, etc.

  1. 1Health Insurance subscribers are divided into the employee insured, their dependents, and the self-employed insured. The standard differs based on their subscription types.
    • One working for an employer may subscribe to Health Insurance as the employee insured. Those relying on the employee insured for living may also subscribe as dependents.
    • One meeting the requirements for subscription to Health Insurance but not falling under the category of the employee insured or a dependent may subscribe as self-employed insured. However, those stated in the following are not eligible for subscription to Health Insurance: Status of sojourn “A” (Diplomat), “B” (Tourist), C (“Short-term visit”) or G-1 (Miscellaneous). Those stated in the following are eligible: “G-1-6” (Humanitarian Status) and “G-1-12” (Their family). The spouse and children under the age of 19 and who are living with the insured may subscribe as “family” through a separate application.
  2. 2Different methods of subscription for different types of Health Insurance
    • Aliens stated in the following as self-employed insured may subscribe upon arrival in this country: Students (D-2), elementary/secondary schoolers (D-4-3), Non-professional employment (E-9), Permanent resident (F-5), Married to a Korean Citizen (F-6). Aliens not stated in the foregoing as those with status of sojourn should wait for six months after arrival in this country to subscribe.
    • Employee subscribers can register from the day they are hired as workers, civil servants, faculty, or employers at the applicable workplace after registering as a resident alien.
    • Dependent requirements have changed as of April 2024. Foreign nationals and overseas Koreans who entered the country from April 3, 2024, must wait six months to register upon arrival, like local subscribers. However, if any of the following applies, you can register immediately after arrival.
      • Spouse & children under 19 years of age
      • If the reason for residence involves study abroad (D-2), general training elementary, middle & high school student (D-4-3), non-professional employment (E-9), permanent residence (F-5), or marriage immigration (F-6)
    • The self-employed insured meeting the relevant requirements are ipso facto eligible for subscription, and their employer should subscribe on their behalf. The application for subscription for their dependents should be made by the employee insured.
    • Those covered by medical security similar to the NHIC-provided medical care benefits under the law or insurance arrangement of a foreign country or through a contract with the employer may apply for “exception to Health Insurance subscription in this country.”
  3. 3There are different methods of calculating the Health Insurance premium for the employee insured and the self-employed insured.
    • The amount of Health Insurance premium for the employee insured is calculated based on his/her monthly remuneration. The employee and the employer will each pay 3.495% of the monthly Health Insurance premium amount and 6.135% for the Long-Term Care Insurance premium.
    • The amount of Health Insurance premium for the self-employed insured is calculated for each household in consideration of their income, property, and type of vehicle owned. Where a household’s insurance premium amount is lower than the median insurance premium amount, the median insurance premium amount applies (i.e., median Health Insurance premium amount: 124,770 won/ Long-Term Care Insurance premium amount: 15,300 won as of 2022).
    • For those with status of sojourn F-5 (Permanent resident) and F-6 (Married to a Korean Citizen), the minimum insurance premium amount applies as in the case of Koreans.
  4. 4How to pay the monthly insurance premium
    • The insurance premium amount for the following month should be paid in advance by the 25th of each month (or by the 10th of the relevant month for those with status of sojourn F-5 (Permanent resident) and F-6 (Married to a Korean Citizen). You may use one of the following for payment of the premium: automatic transfer, virtual account, at a bank, electronic method, at a branch of NHIC (using a credit card), premium collection portal, etc.
    • Any delay in the monthly payment of insurance premium may result in disadvantage to the insured such as non-provision of Health Insurance benefit or restrictions related to the status of sojourn.

(2)Services provided

Summary

With subscription to Health Insurance, you may receive services like prevention/diagnosis, treatment of diseases/injuries, and rehabilitation services; medical care benefits/health checkup at the time of childbirth, death, etc. (in-kind service)

  • When using a hospital/clinic,* you only need to pay 30~60% of the medical expenses (for outpatient) or 20% (for in-patient). The portion of medical expenses you have to pay as the insured varies depending on the type of medical institutions and their locations.
    • Treatment of diseases not affecting your daily life such as esthetic surgery and the like is not covered by Health Insurance.
  • Expense for ordinary health checkup, which is done every other year (those born in the year ending with an odd number do so in the year ending with an odd number/ those born in the year ending with an even number do so in the year ending with an even number), is fully paid by NHIC.
  • When using a hospital/clinic, you need to present your Health Insurance Certificate or alien registration card. You may use the NHIC-provided in-kind service without a separate application.

(3)Need more detailed information?

  1. 1Please visit NHIC in person or the following:
    • NHIS Seoul Center for Foreign Residents for those who are in Seoul or metropolitan area; Local governing office for those who are in other regions
    사회복지시설의 이용지원 한도액 : 입소자 수에 따른 지원금액을 나타낸 표입니다.
    Name of the center Coverage
    NHIC Seoul Alien Service Center Entire Seoul area
    NHIC Ansan Alien Service Center Ansan, Siheung, and Gunpo
    NHIC Suwon Alien Service Center Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Osan, and Seongnam
    NHIC Incheon Alien Service Center Incheon, Bucheon, Gimpo, and Gwangmyeong
    NHIC Euijeongbu Alien Service Center Euijeongbu, Namyangju, Gapyeong, Pocheon, Dongducheon, Yeoncheon, Yangju, Guri, Goyang, and Paju
  2. 2NHIC ‘s homepage (nhis.or.kr)
    • You may check the insurance premium amount you need to pay by clicking “insurance premium-related inquiry/payment” at NHIC’s cyber service center.
Korea Open Government License
This work can be used according to the “KOGL (Korea Open Government License) Type 4: Source Indication+Prohibition of Commercial Use+Prohibition of Change” condition.
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