Korea Private Medical Insurance 2026 Changes: Silson Guide

Private medical insurance in Korea changed significantly in 2026.

Table of Contents

The new system focuses more heavily on hospitalization, serious diseases, and medically necessary treatment. At the same time, it reduces reimbursement for certain non-covered services that have been associated with repeated or potentially excessive use.

For foreign residents, the first thing to understand is that this reform concerns private medical expense insurance, commonly called:

Silson insurance
Silbi insurance
실손보험
실손의료보험

It is separate from Korea’s public National Health Insurance system.

Important date clarification

Korea’s 5th-generation private medical expense insurance officially went on sale on May 6, 2026.

July 2026 matters because the earliest 4th-generation contracts began reaching their scheduled re-enrollment dates. It does not mean that every private medical insurance policy in Korea changed automatically on July 1, 2026.

At a Glance: What Changed in 2026?

The new 5th-generation product launched on May 6, 2026.
Medical expenses are divided into three categories: NHIS-covered, serious non-covered, and non-serious non-covered care.
Serious non-covered treatment retains relatively strong protection.
Non-serious non-covered treatment generally has a higher patient cost share.
Certain musculoskeletal treatments, shockwave therapy, and non-covered injections may be excluded.
Official estimates suggest premiums are lower than those of earlier generations.
Heavy use of non-serious non-covered benefits can increase the following year’s rider premium.
Existing policyholders move to new terms according to their individual contracts, not one nationwide July deadline.
Special discount and conversion options for some early-generation policies are scheduled to begin in November 2026.

What Is Silson Insurance in Korea?

Silson insurance is private insurance that reimburses eligible medical expenses you actually paid.

A useful English description is:

Private indemnity medical expense insurance

The word indemnity means that the insurer reimburses an eligible financial loss based on the actual medical bill.

This differs from fixed-benefit insurance.

For example, a fixed-benefit cancer policy may pay KRW 20 million after a qualifying cancer diagnosis, regardless of the exact hospital bill.

Silson insurance works differently. The insurer reviews:

the actual hospital or pharmacy receipt;
whether the treatment is covered;
whether National Health Insurance applied;
whether the service was classified as covered or non-covered;
your fixed deductible or percentage cost share;
daily, per-treatment, admission, and annual limits;
policy exclusions;
required medical documentation.

Only the remaining eligible amount is reimbursed.

Deductible, Coinsurance, and Coverage: Simple Definitions

Foreign residents may encounter several confusing insurance terms.

Coverage

Coverage means the medical expenses and situations that the policy is designed to reimburse.

A treatment can be medically available in Korea but still fall outside your insurance coverage.

Deductible

A deductible is an amount that must remain your responsibility before or when insurance reimbursement is calculated.

Korean documents may use:

자기부담금: amount paid by the policyholder;
공제금액: fixed amount deducted from reimbursement;
최소 자기부담금: minimum amount the patient must pay.

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is the percentage of an eligible medical expense that you must pay yourself.

For example, a 50% patient cost-sharing rate means:

you pay 50%;
the insurer may reimburse the remaining 50%;
policy limits and exclusions still apply.

Korean explanations often use 자기부담률, which can be translated as a deductible rate, patient cost-sharing rate, or coinsurance rate.

Non-Covered Treatment

A non-covered treatment, or 비급여 진료, is a service that is not paid through the standard National Health Insurance benefit structure.

Non-covered does not automatically mean:

medically unnecessary;
covered by private insurance;
excluded from private insurance.

The exact treatment code and policy terms determine whether reimbursement is available.

National Health Insurance and Private Insurance Are Different

Korea has a public health insurance system and several forms of private insurance.

System	Korean term	Main function	Status for foreign residents
National Health Insurance	국민건강보험	Pays part of approved medical expenses through the public system	Mandatory for many eligible foreign residents
Private medical expense insurance	실손의료보험	Reimburses eligible out-of-pocket medical costs	Optional
Fixed-benefit insurance	정액보험	Pays a predetermined amount after a covered diagnosis or event	Optional

Foreign employees working at an NHIS-covered workplace are generally enrolled through their employer. Registered foreign residents who are not workplace subscribers may become subject to mandatory enrollment after staying in Korea for more than six months, depending on visa status and applicable exceptions.

Private silson insurance does not replace National Health Insurance. It functions as an additional financial layer.

A simple engineering analogy is:

NHIS is the main load-bearing structure. Silson insurance is an additional protective layer that covers part of the load left to the resident.

How Silson Reimbursement Works

Suppose a hospital bill is KRW 1 million.

National Health Insurance may pay part of the bill, while you pay the remaining amount.

Silson insurance then reviews your portion rather than automatically paying the entire original hospital bill.

The calculation can be understood as:

Actual amount paid
− excluded services
− deductible or coinsurance
− expenses above policy limits
= potential reimbursement

This is why two patients receiving similar treatment may receive different insurance payments.

They may have:

different policy generations;
different riders;
different treatment codes;
different NHIS classifications;
different annual limits;
different deductibles.

Why Did Korea Change Silson Insurance?

The Korean government identified several structural problems in the previous system.

According to the Financial Services Commission, approximately 65% of policyholders received no benefits in 2025, while the highest-claiming 10% received approximately 74% of total benefits.

The government also argued that broad reimbursement of certain non-covered services weakened patients’ awareness of treatment prices and contributed to rising premiums.

The 5th-generation reform was therefore designed around two main goals:

maintain meaningful protection for ordinary covered care and serious illness;
reduce broad reimbursement for non-essential or frequently overused non-covered treatment.

The government stated that savings from the narrower benefit structure would be returned to policyholders through lower premiums.

The Three-Tier Structure of 5th-Generation Insurance

The new product divides medical expenses into three functional categories.

Category	What it generally covers	Patient cost share	Major limits and rules
1. NHIS-covered care	Approved treatment covered by National Health Insurance	Inpatient: 20%; outpatient: linked to NHIS copayment rules	Minimum outpatient patient share generally KRW 10,000 or KRW 20,000
2. Serious non-covered care	Eligible non-covered treatment connected to designated serious diseases	Generally 30%	Annual limit KRW 50 million; new annual patient-payment ceiling for qualifying inpatient care
3. Non-serious non-covered care	Other eligible non-covered treatment	Generally 50%	Annual limit KRW 10 million; higher outpatient minimum and additional limits

These are standardized general rules. The exact amount paid still depends on the insurer, contract, treatment code, medical institution, and claim documentation.

Tier 1: NHIS-Covered Medical Expenses

NHIS-covered services are called 급여 진료.

National Health Insurance pays part of the approved cost, while the patient pays a copayment.

Inpatient Treatment

For eligible NHIS-covered inpatient expenses, the 5th-generation policy generally maintains a 20% patient cost-sharing rate.

The government chose to retain this level because hospitalization and surgery are more likely to involve unavoidable medical needs and substantial expenses.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient reimbursement is more closely connected to the NHIS copayment structure.

The policyholder generally pays the largest of:

the amount calculated using the applicable NHIS copayment rate;
20% of the eligible patient-paid expense;
the minimum deductible.

The general minimums are:

KRW 10,000: clinic or hospital treatment plus related pharmacy expenses;
KRW 20,000: general hospital or tertiary hospital treatment plus related pharmacy expenses.

This design means that using a major hospital for relatively minor outpatient care may result in a larger personal payment than using an appropriate local clinic.

New Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Developmental Coverage

The 5th-generation policy newly includes certain NHIS-covered medical expenses related to:

pregnancy;
childbirth;
developmental disorders.

However, this is not unlimited maternity or child-development coverage.

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Eligible covered expenses may be included when the mother enrolled in silson insurance at least 280 days before the expected delivery date.

Developmental Disorders

Eligible covered expenses may be reimbursed until age 18 when the child was enrolled while still a fetus.

These rules apply to qualifying NHIS-covered expenses. They do not automatically make the following services reimbursable:

postpartum care centers;
upgraded hospital rooms;
all prenatal tests;
every fertility treatment;
all developmental therapy;
non-covered maternity packages.

The precise medical classification and contract conditions remain important.

Tier 2: Serious Non-Covered Medical Expenses

Serious non-covered care is called 중증 비급여.

It is mainly connected to diseases covered by Korea’s special NHIS copayment-reduction registration system, including qualifying cases of:

cancer;
cerebrovascular disease;
heart disease;
rare diseases;
intractable diseases;
other officially designated serious conditions.

Treatment for a medically connected complication may also qualify when the causal relationship is clear.

The qualifying disease list is linked to Ministry of Health and Welfare rules. It can therefore change when the public serious-disease criteria are revised.

Main Serious Non-Covered Benefits

The standardized structure generally provides:

annual reimbursement limit: KRW 50 million;
inpatient patient share: 30%;
outpatient patient share: the greater of 30% or KRW 30,000;
outpatient limit: KRW 200,000 per visit;
annual patient-payment ceiling: KRW 5 million for qualifying inpatient treatment at general and tertiary hospitals.

The KRW 5 million ceiling applies to eligible serious non-covered inpatient expenses at designated higher-level hospitals. It is not a universal ceiling covering every hospital bill or every type of treatment.

Once eligible annual patient payments exceed the ceiling, the policy provides additional protection for the qualifying excess amount, subject to the policy terms.

Tier 3: Non-Serious Non-Covered Medical Expenses

Non-serious non-covered care is called 비중증 비급여.

This category experiences the largest reduction in coverage.

Main Changes

Under the standardized 5th-generation structure:

the annual reimbursement limit decreases from KRW 50 million to KRW 10 million;
the inpatient patient cost-sharing rate increases to 50%;
the outpatient patient share becomes the greater of 50% or KRW 50,000;
the outpatient reimbursement limit is generally KRW 200,000 per day;
inpatient treatment at clinics and hospitals may be limited to KRW 3 million per admission.

These changes transfer more of the cost of non-serious non-covered treatment back to the patient.

Simple Example

Suppose an eligible non-serious non-covered outpatient treatment costs KRW 300,000.

A 50% patient cost share would be:

patient payment: KRW 150,000;
potential insurance reimbursement: KRW 150,000.

However, reimbursement could be lower or zero when:

the treatment is excluded;
the treatment is not medically justified under the policy;
the daily or annual limit has been reached;
the required documents are missing;
the service is classified differently from what the patient expected.

Which Treatments May Be Excluded?

The standardized 5th-generation structure excludes additional categories from non-serious non-covered coverage.

Official examples include:

certain musculoskeletal physical therapy;
manual therapy;
extracorporeal shockwave therapy;
prolotherapy or similar musculoskeletal procedures;
non-covered injection treatment;
unregistered new medical technologies;
treatments rated Grade D, meaning “not recommended,” under Korea’s medical technology reassessment system.

Korea’s reassessment system may classify medical technologies as:

A: recommended;
B: weakly recommended;
C: recommendation deferred;
D: not recommended.

The exclusion does not necessarily mean that every service described broadly as “physical therapy” or “injection treatment” is excluded.

NHIS-covered rehabilitation, serious-disease treatment, and services billed under different medical codes may be treated differently.

Practical rule

Never rely only on a hospital employee saying, “This is usually covered by silson insurance.”

The hospital provides treatment and billing information. The insurer makes the reimbursement decision under your specific contract.

Before an expensive non-covered procedure, ask:

Is this service classified as NHIS-covered or non-covered?
What is the exact treatment or billing code?
Is it excluded under my policy generation?
Which rider would cover it?
What percentage must I pay?
Is there a daily, admission, or annual limit?
Does the insurer require a diagnosis certificate or treatment record?

Are 5th-Generation Premiums Cheaper?

The Financial Services Commission estimated that a complete 5th-generation policy would cost:

approximately 30% less than a comparable 4th-generation policy;
at least 50% less than many 1st- and 2nd-generation policies.

A policyholder who purchases only:

the basic NHIS-covered contract; and
the serious non-covered rider

may pay approximately half the premium of a full 4th-generation policy.

These are official market estimates, not guaranteed prices for every applicant.

Actual premiums can differ according to:

age;
sex;
insurer;
renewal year;
selected riders;
underwriting results;
insurer loss experience;
non-serious non-covered claim history.

A lower premium is possible partly because the policy offers narrower benefits and higher patient cost sharing for certain treatments.

The correct comparison is therefore:

**Annual premium

expected deductibles

excluded medical expenses
= estimated total annual cost**

The policy with the lowest monthly premium is not automatically the cheapest option for someone who regularly uses excluded or high-deductible treatment.

Claim-Based Discounts and Surcharges

The non-serious non-covered rider uses two related but separate premium-adjustment systems.

1. Two-Year No-Claim Discount

When the policyholder receives no benefits from the non-serious non-covered rider for the previous two years, the total silson premium for the following year may receive a 10% discount.

This applies to the basic contract and enrolled riders together under the standardized rule.

2. Annual Five-Level Premium Adjustment

The previous year’s benefits from the non-serious non-covered rider affect the next year’s premium for that rider.

Previous year’s non-serious non-covered benefits	Possible rider premium adjustment
No benefits received	Discount; rate varies by insurer
More than KRW 0 and up to KRW 1 million	No surcharge
More than KRW 1 million and up to KRW 1.5 million	Approximately 100% surcharge
More than KRW 1.5 million and up to KRW 3 million	Approximately 200% surcharge
More than KRW 3 million	Approximately 300% surcharge

The FSC used approximately 5% as an example of the no-claim discount under this annual adjustment, but the actual percentage can vary because the collected surcharge amount is redistributed among low-claim policyholders.

A 100% surcharge means that the relevant rider premium may approximately double. It does not mean that the entire medical insurance premium necessarily doubles.

Claims paid through the serious non-covered rider are excluded from this surcharge structure.

Did Every Existing Policy Change in July 2026?

No.

The 5th-generation product was launched on May 6, 2026. Existing policies do not all change on the same day.

The 4th-generation product was originally launched on July 1, 2021. These contracts generally include a scheduled re-enrollment cycle, commonly five years.

That is why the earliest 4th-generation contracts began reaching their re-enrollment points from July 2026.

This is a contractual transition, not an automatic nationwide replacement of every silson policy.

Your Actual Change Date Depends On:

when your policy started;
which generation you purchased;
whether the contract contains a re-enrollment clause;
the length of the re-enrollment cycle;
whether you converted from an earlier policy;
the terms being sold at your re-enrollment date.

Annual Renewal and Re-Enrollment Are Different

Two Korean insurance terms are easily confused.

Renewal: 갱신

An annual renewal normally means:

the policy continues for another year;
your premium may be recalculated;
your age and insurer claims experience may affect the price.

The main policy structure does not necessarily change.

Re-Enrollment: 재가입

A re-enrollment is a scheduled point when the policy can move to the standardized product available at that time.

Re-enrollment may change:

coverage;
deductibles;
exclusions;
reimbursement limits;
riders;
the policy structure itself.

When contacting your insurer, ask both questions:

When is my next annual renewal date?

When is my next contractual re-enrollment date, and which terms will apply afterward?

What Happens to Older 1st- and 2nd-Generation Policies?

Some older policies, especially those issued before March 2013, do not contain a periodic re-enrollment clause.

These contracts do not automatically become 5th-generation policies simply because a new product has been released.

For eligible early-generation policyholders, two additional programs are scheduled to begin in November 2026.

As of July 2026, these are announced future programs, so policyholders should confirm final insurer procedures closer to implementation.

Option 1: Selective Coverage-Reduction Discount

Eligible policyholders may keep their early-generation contract while voluntarily removing selected benefits.

The selectable options are expected to include:

excluding certain musculoskeletal physical therapy, shockwave treatment, and non-covered injections;
excluding non-covered MRI and MRA services;
applying a 20% patient cost-sharing rate.

Policyholders may select some or all options.

When all options are selected, the estimated premium reduction is:

approximately 40% for some 1st-generation policies;
approximately 30% for some 2nd-generation policies.

Actual discounts will depend on the insurer and product.

This option may be attractive to someone who:

wants to keep the basic old policy;
rarely uses the benefits being removed;
finds the current premium difficult to maintain.

It may be unsuitable for someone who regularly claims the benefits being excluded.

Option 2: 5th-Generation Conversion Discount

Eligible early-generation policyholders may convert their old contract to a 5th-generation policy and receive a temporary premium discount.

The FSC provided the following example:

A qualifying policyholder converts to the 5th-generation product and receives a 50% discount on the new premium for three years.

This is an official example rather than a guaranteed discount for every contract.

The conversion-discount program is scheduled to begin in November 2026 and initially operate for six months, after which authorities will consider whether to extend it.

Can Existing Policyholders Convert Voluntarily?

Existing 1st- through 4th-generation policyholders can generally apply to convert to the 5th-generation product offered by their current insurer.

The standardized conversion process is normally available without additional medical underwriting.

However, underwriting may be required when:

the policyholder requests broader coverage;
the policyholder previously withdrew a conversion and later applies again;
another stated exception applies.

The official conversion procedure also includes a limited reversal option.

In general:

conversion may be reversed within six months under the applicable conditions;
during the first three months, reversal may be possible even when an insured event has occurred;
after three months, reversal generally requires that no qualifying insurance claim event has occurred.

Policyholders should obtain the exact withdrawal rules in writing before converting.

Do Not Cancel an Old Policy Before Comparing It

An old silson policy may have:

higher premiums;
broader non-covered benefits;
lower patient cost sharing;
fewer exclusions;
no easy path back after cancellation.

Before converting or cancelling, request a written comparison showing:

Item to compare	Current policy	New policy
Monthly premium
Annual premium
NHIS-covered inpatient cost share
NHIS-covered outpatient cost share
Serious non-covered limit
Non-serious non-covered limit
Manual therapy coverage
Injection coverage
MRI and MRA coverage
Claim-based premium surcharge
Renewal cycle
Re-enrollment date
Conversion reversal rules

Do not rely only on a salesperson’s statement that the new product is “cheaper” or the old policy is “better.”

Both statements can be true for different patients.

Can Foreign Residents Buy Silson Insurance?

Foreign residents may be able to apply for private medical expense insurance, but acceptance is not automatic.

There is no single practical rule covering every visa, insurer, and applicant.

An insurance company may consider:

residence status;
remaining visa duration;
length of stay in Korea;
National Health Insurance status;
Korean residence documentation;
age;
medical history;
previous treatment;
ability to complete required disclosures;
available Korean payment and contact methods.

A Residence Card and active NHIS status may commonly be requested, but applicants should not assume that the requirements are identical across all insurers.

Silson insurance is designed around Korea’s medical billing and NHIS cost-sharing structure. Ask the insurer how reimbursement changes when NHIS does not apply to a particular bill.

Foreigner’s Application Checklist

Step 1: Confirm Your NHIS Status

Check whether you are:

an employee-insured subscriber;
a local subscriber;
registered as a dependent;
exempt under an applicable agreement or foreign insurance arrangement.

Step 2: Ask Whether Your Visa Is Accepted

Provide the exact visa category and expiration date.

Do not ask only:

Can foreigners join?

Ask:

Does your company currently accept an applicant with my specific visa and remaining period of stay?

Step 3: Confirm the Policy Generation

Ask whether the product is 5th-generation and request the standardized benefit summary.

Step 4: Select the Riders Carefully

The 5th-generation structure allows the non-covered riders to be selected separately.

Possible combinations may include:

basic NHIS-covered contract only;
basic contract plus serious non-covered rider;
basic contract plus both non-covered riders.

A person mainly concerned about catastrophic illness may not need the same combination as someone expecting frequent outpatient treatment.

Step 5: Review Your Regular Treatments

Pay particular attention when you regularly receive:

manual therapy;
shockwave therapy;
non-covered injections;
MRI or MRA examinations;
rehabilitation;
developmental treatment;
pregnancy-related care;
treatment for an existing condition.

Step 6: Confirm the Claim Method

Ask whether claims can be submitted through:

a mobile application;
email;
an insurance branch;
a representative;
a hospital-linked electronic claim system.

Also ask which documents require Korean originals.

Step 7: Request Written Confirmation

Before expensive treatment, obtain written confirmation using the exact medical code whenever possible.

Is 5th-Generation Silson Better or Worse?

There is no universal answer.

The New Policy May Be More Suitable When You:

want a lower monthly premium;
rarely use non-covered treatment;
mainly want protection against hospitalization and serious illness;
can pay larger deductibles for minor outpatient treatment;
do not regularly use excluded musculoskeletal services.

An Older Policy May Remain Valuable When You:

regularly use benefits that remain covered under the old terms;
have broad non-covered coverage;
have a low deductible;
may not qualify for equivalent coverage again;
can comfortably maintain the higher premium.

The Engineer Dad Decision Model

Think of insurance as a protection system with three variables:

Input cost: monthly premium;
activation condition: what treatment triggers reimbursement;
remaining load: the amount you still pay after insurance.

A low input cost is not automatically efficient when the system rarely activates.

A broad old policy is not automatically efficient when its premium becomes unaffordable.

The right policy is the one that balances:

premium affordability;
expected medical use;
serious-disease protection;
excluded treatment;
deductible risk;
long-term sustainability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 실손보험 in English?

It is commonly translated as:

private medical expense insurance;
private indemnity medical insurance;
silson insurance;
silbi insurance.

It reimburses eligible medical expenses based on the amount the policyholder actually paid.

Did all Korean private medical insurance change in July 2026?

No.

The 5th-generation product launched on May 6, 2026. July 2026 is significant because the earliest 4th-generation policies, first sold from July 2021, began reaching their scheduled re-enrollment dates.

Is private medical insurance mandatory for foreigners?

No. Private silson insurance is generally optional.

National Health Insurance is mandatory for many foreign employees and qualifying registered residents, although exemptions and visa-specific rules may apply.

Does silson insurance pay the entire hospital bill?

Usually not.

The insurer deducts:

your fixed deductible;
your percentage cost share;
excluded expenses;
amounts above policy limits.

Is 비급여 the same as privately insured treatment?

No.

비급여 means that the service is outside the standard NHIS benefit structure. A private policy may cover it, limit it, or exclude it.

Are manual therapy and shockwave therapy covered?

Certain non-covered musculoskeletal physical therapy, manual therapy, and extracorporeal shockwave treatment are excluded under the standardized non-serious rider.

The result still depends on the treatment code, medical classification, serious-disease status, and contract terms.

Are non-covered injections included?

Some non-covered injections are excluded from the non-serious rider.

Do not assume that every injection is treated identically. Ask the insurer to check the exact billing code.

Are MRI and MRA examinations excluded?

MRI and MRA coverage depends on whether the examination is NHIS-covered, non-covered, medically necessary, and included under the policy.

For eligible early-generation policyholders, voluntarily excluding non-covered MRI and MRA is one of the discount options scheduled for November 2026.

Are cancer treatments covered?

Eligible NHIS-covered cancer treatment and qualifying serious non-covered treatment can be reimbursed.

The serious non-covered rider generally maintains a KRW 50 million annual limit and adds a KRW 5 million annual patient-payment ceiling for qualifying inpatient care at general and tertiary hospitals.

Will filing one claim increase my entire premium?

Not necessarily.

The claim-based surcharge applies primarily to the non-serious non-covered rider. The increase depends on the total benefits received during the previous year.

Serious non-covered claims are excluded from that surcharge calculation.

Can I return to my old policy after converting?

A limited reversal procedure is available.

The exact result depends on whether the request is made within three or six months and whether an insurance claim event occurred. Obtain written confirmation before conversion.

Should I convert my old policy immediately?

Do not decide based only on the monthly premium.

Compare:

the treatments you actually use;
your current deductible;
excluded services;
annual limits;
serious-disease protection;
future premium affordability;
conversion reversal rules.

Does a hospital’s promise guarantee reimbursement?

No.

A hospital can explain the treatment and billing code, but the insurer decides reimbursement under your contract.

Final Summary

Korea’s 2026 silson reform changes the role of private medical insurance.

The system is moving away from broad reimbursement of nearly every eligible medical expense and toward a layered structure:

National Health Insurance remains the public foundation.
The basic silson contract helps with eligible NHIS-covered expenses.
The serious non-covered rider protects against major medical risks.
The non-serious non-covered rider offers narrower protection with higher patient cost sharing.

The most important date distinction is:

May 6, 2026: 5th-generation insurance officially launched;
July 2026 onward: the earliest 4th-generation contracts began reaching individual re-enrollment dates;
November 2026: special options for qualifying early 1st- and 2nd-generation policyholders are scheduled to begin.

Before enrolling, converting, or cancelling, check four items:

your NHIS status;
your exact policy generation;
your contractual re-enrollment date;
the treatment codes, deductibles, exclusions, and limits written in the policy.

Official Sources Reviewed

Financial Services Commission, announcement of the 5th-generation private medical expense insurance launch, May 6, 2026.
Financial Services Commission, private medical insurance reform plan, April 1, 2025.
Financial Services Commission, announcement of the 4th-generation product launch from July 1, 2021.
National Health Insurance Service, official guidance for foreign residents.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about Korea’s private medical expense insurance system as of July 25, 2026.

It is not insurance, medical, legal, tax, or financial advice.

Coverage, premiums, deductibles, exclusions, underwriting, foreign-resident eligibility, conversion procedures, and claim decisions vary by insurer and individual contract. Programs scheduled for November 2026 may also be adjusted before implementation.

Before purchasing, cancelling, renewing, or converting a policy, review the official insurance terms and request written confirmation from the insurance company or a licensed insurance professional.