GURI-CITY

Information about National Health Insurance Benefits for Foreigners

What is the National Health Insurance?

The National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) is the only public insurance institution operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. National Health Insurance (NHI) agreements differ by two types depending on the applicant is employed or self-employed. NHI benefits applicants based on the funds accumulated by the bill payments of contractors. This system works to reduce applicants’ burden for medical expenses and to provide good quality of medical services.

application Requirements

If a foreign individual who is registered at the Korea Immigration Service and satisfies the following conditions can apply for the NHI to NHIC.

• Employee or employer of a business, which has the employment insuranc
• an individual covered by neither self-employment insurance nor employment insurance, but possesses one of the following visas:F-2, F-4, D-1~9, E-1~5, E-7~8, F-1 (Korean Citizen’s spouse and child) and foreign spouse and child younger than 20.
• a foreign employee with employment insurance has to submit an application and other documents to the employer because the employer is required to submit all those documents to NHIC. Insurance payments are calculated from the first day of employment.
• a foreigner with self-employment insurance has to submit an application, alien registration card and passport to NHIC. Insurance payments are calculated from the first day of residence registered at the Korea Immigration Service.

Insurance Payments

• For a foreign employee with employment insurance, payments are calculated with the insurance rate proportional to monthly pay. 50% of the insurance payment is charged to the employer and the other 50% is charged to the employee (deducted from monthly check). The insurance payments are calculated from the first day of employment.
• For a self-employed foreigner, the insurance payments are calculated with the insurance rate proportional to the monthly income. For an unemployed foreigner, the average monthly insurance payment of the prior year is charged. The insurance payments are calculated from the first day of residence registered at the Korean Immigration Service.
• For a foreign student, the insurance payments are reduced by 30% and the payments are due every 3 months ahead of time. But for individuals with F-1 or F-2, the insurance payments are charged monthly as same as Korean citizens.

Insurance Benefits

The same insurance benefits for Korean citizens are applied to the benefits for foreigners. Regardless of a person is a foreigner or a Korean citizen, the co-payment that must be paid at a medical clinic or service by a patient is the same.

amount charged to patient

• Visiting a medical clinic or a hospital: 20%~50% of the total NHI applicable medical charges.
• Purchasing prescription drugs at a pharmacy: 30% of the total NHI applicable charges.

National Health Service Corporation