National Health Insurance (NHIS)
Korea operates a single public health insurance system. Both citizens and registered foreign residents are required to enrol with the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), and virtually all medical institutions are contracted providers under this insurance. Private insurance plays only a supplementary role; many residents add 실손의료보험 (private indemnity insurance) to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Two types of enrolment
- Workplace insured (사업장가입자): Company employees. Premiums are around 7% of monthly remuneration — split equally between employer and employee (so your payroll deduction is roughly 3.5%). On top of this, long-term care insurance of about 0.9% is added separately (figures change yearly).
- Locally insured (지역가입자): Self-employed, freelancers, and those without work. Premiums are calculated from a combination of income, property, and vehicles, making them more complex and more variable than workplace premiums.
- Dependants of workplace insureds (spouse, children, parents meeting certain conditions) are covered without additional premiums.
Rules for foreign residents
- Foreigners residing in Korea for 6 months or more are automatically enrolled as locally insured (if they are not eligible for workplace coverage and cannot be registered as a dependant).
- Foreign locally insureds are subject to a minimum premium floor, so it is common to be charged more than a Korean with the same income (system reform discussions are ongoing).
- Unpaid premiums can affect visa renewals and permanent residency applications, so automatic transfer is recommended.
What it covers
- Outpatient, inpatient, and pharmacy costs are all covered. Patient co-payments are 30–60% for outpatient (varying by clinic vs. general hospital) and around 20% for inpatient.
- Out-of-pocket maximum (본인부담상한제): If your annual share exceeds an income-based ceiling, the excess is refunded (the ceiling is very low for low-income households).
- Special calculation for severe and rare diseases (산정특례): Cancer, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and rare diseases are charged at a reduced 5–10% co-payment.
- Health screenings: General check-ups every two years, with cancer screenings on item-specific cycles, all free or low cost.
From a foreign-origin resident's perspective
- English medical records brought from your home country can be used as reference at Korean hospitals, but you will need new diagnoses and prescriptions from Korean providers for insurance-covered care.
- Emergency room and 119: An ARC or passport alone is enough to receive treatment; insurance is reconciled afterwards.
- English-speaking hospitals are concentrated among large hospitals in Seoul and the capital region; a list of facilities with dedicated international patient coordinators is available on the Korea Tourism Organization's Medical Korea site.
- Private indemnity insurance (실손의료보험) is intended to refund 5–30% of your share of costs and pays little on cancellation. Read the terms and exclusion periods carefully before signing.
Things to watch
- If you only plan to stay in Korea short term, confirm social security agreement coverage with both your home insurer and NHIS before and after enrolment.
- Premium rates are published in January each year; figures in this guide are estimates.
Official guidance: NHIS (National Health Insurance Service), HIRA (Health Insurance Review and Assessment)