Moving to Korea involves more than obtaining a visa and finding a home. You also need to understand how the Korean healthcare and insurance systems work.
Korea’s public health insurance program is called National Health Insurance, or NHI. In Korean, it is 국민건강보험.
The organization that manages enrollment, dependent registration, insurance premiums, and benefits is the National Health Insurance Service, commonly called NHIS. Its Korean name is 국민건강보험공단.
Eligible foreign residents generally receive the same National Health Insurance benefits as Korean citizens. However, your enrollment date, monthly premium, and family registration options can differ according to your employment, visa, income, property, family relationship, and length of residence in Korea.
Last updated: July 13, 2026
What Is Korean National Health Insurance?
Korean National Health Insurance is a compulsory public social insurance system designed to reduce the cost of medically necessary care.
It is not the same as:
- private medical insurance;
- employer-provided international insurance;
- travel insurance; or
- a healthcare system in which every service is free.
When an insured patient receives a covered medical service, NHIS pays part of the approved cost. The patient pays the remaining co-payment, called 본인부담금 in Korean.
NHIS benefits can include covered consultations, tests, medication, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, maternity care, preventive services, and eligible health screenings. The amount you pay varies by medical service, patient category, and healthcare institution.
NHIS and HIRA: What Is the Difference?
Foreign residents may see two similar abbreviations when using Korean healthcare.
NHIS — National Health Insurance Service
NHIS manages:
- insurance eligibility;
- employee and regional enrollment;
- dependent registration;
- premium assessment and collection; and
- insurance benefits.
HIRA — Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service
HIRA reviews medical claims, healthcare fees, and whether services meet Korean health insurance standards.
In simple terms, NHIS manages your insurance, while HIRA reviews claims submitted by medical providers.
The Three Types of Health Insurance Registration
NHIS English materials sometimes call a regional subscriber a self-employed insured person. This does not necessarily mean that the person owns a business. It can refer more broadly to someone insured outside the workplace system.
1. Employee Health Insurance for Foreign Workers
Foreign nationals working at a workplace covered by National Health Insurance are generally enrolled as employee-insured subscribers.
The employer normally reports the employee’s eligibility to NHIS. Coverage and premiums can be applied retroactively to the eligible employment start date, so a delay in the first payroll deduction does not always mean that no premium is owed.
What should you check with your employer?
Ask your HR or payroll department:
- Has my NHIS employee eligibility been reported?
- What is my official coverage start date?
- Is the health insurance premium shown on my payslip?
- Is Long-Term Care Insurance also being deducted?
- Can the company help register my spouse or child as a dependent?
Receiving a Residence Card does not by itself confirm that your workplace registration has been completed.
Can a foreign employee opt out?
In limited cases, a foreign employee may apply for exclusion from Korean employee insurance when equivalent medical benefits are provided under foreign law, qualifying foreign insurance, or an employer contract.
Exclusion is not automatic. An application and supporting evidence are required, and NHIS makes the final decision.
2. Dependent Registration for Foreign Family Members
A dependent, or 피부양자, is an eligible family member who is mainly supported by an employee-insured subscriber.
Approved dependents receive National Health Insurance benefits without paying a separate monthly health insurance premium. However, a family relationship alone is not enough.
NHIS reviews several factors:
- relationship to the employee subscriber;
- financial dependency;
- annual income;
- business and housing rental income;
- property;
- marital status;
- age in certain sibling cases;
- Korean residence history; and
- supporting documents.
Who may qualify?
Potential dependents include:
- a spouse;
- parents and parents-in-law;
- children and stepchildren;
- certain descendants and their spouses; and
- limited categories of unmarried siblings.
Different cohabitation and support tests can apply depending on the relationship.
Income and property requirements
Current NHIS guidance generally requires total annual income—including business, financial, pension, employment, and other income—to be less than KRW 20 million.
However, that is not the only test.
Additional rules include:
- restrictions on business income;
- stricter treatment of housing rental income;
- requirements applying to both spouses when the applicant is married;
- a property tax base below KRW 540 million in ordinary cases;
- an additional income restriction when the property tax base is between KRW 540 million and KRW 900 million; and
- a lower property threshold for siblings.
The property figure is a property tax base, not necessarily the property’s market price. A person can therefore earn less than KRW 20 million and still fail the dependent test.
The Six-Month Residence Rule for Foreign Dependents
A major rule change took effect on April 3, 2024.
For foreign nationals entering Korea on or after that date, a person generally needs at least six months of Korean residence—or another legally recognized reason showing continued residence—before obtaining dependent status.
The general six-month delay does not apply in the same way to the employee subscriber’s:
- spouse; or
- child under 19, including the spouse’s child.
Parents, siblings, and other eligible relatives are generally subject to the residence requirement in addition to the ordinary income, property, and dependency tests.
Documents Commonly Required for Dependent Registration
The exact documents depend on your nationality and family situation. NHIS may request:
- the dependent eligibility acquisition or loss report;
- the employee subscriber’s identification information;
- the applicant’s Residence Card or domestic residence report card;
- a marriage certificate;
- a birth certificate;
- another official family relationship certificate;
- Apostille certification or consular authentication;
- a notarized Korean translation; and
- additional evidence of dependency, income, property, or marital status.
Foreign family documents generally need to:
- be issued by a foreign government or another competent authority;
- clearly prove the relevant relationship;
- include at least two identifying details, such as name and date of birth;
- be Apostilled or otherwise authenticated when required; and
- fall within the accepted document period.
Current NHIS guidance generally requires the family document to be dated within nine months of issuance or official authentication. Documents not written in Korean require a Korean translation notarized by a recognized notarial institution.
Confirm the requirements with NHIS before paying for translation, notarization, or Apostille services. Requirements can differ according to the issuing country and the type of relationship.
How to Apply for Dependent Status
The employee-insured subscriber can usually begin the application through:
- the employer’s HR department;
- the NHIS office responsible for the registered address;
- an NHIS Center for Foreign Residents; or
- an available NHIS electronic filing service.
Applying promptly is important. Korean dependent eligibility rules contain reporting deadlines that can affect whether coverage is recognized from an earlier qualifying date or only from the reporting date.
3. Regional Health Insurance for Foreign Residents
A foreign resident who is not covered through an employer or approved as a dependent may become a regional subscriber.
The general rule is that an eligible registered foreign resident who has stayed in Korea for more than six months becomes subject to mandatory regional enrollment.
Visa categories commonly included in the system include many D, E, F, G, and H statuses, such as:
- D-2 student;
- D-4 general trainee;
- D-10 job seeker;
- E-series employment visas;
- F-1 visiting or cohabitation;
- F-2 resident;
- F-3 accompanying family;
- F-4 overseas Korean;
- F-5 permanent resident;
- F-6 marriage immigrant; and
- H-1 working holiday.
The exact enrollment date can be affected by the visa type, immigration registration, periods outside Korea, and changes in employment or residence status.
Contact NHIS when:
- you are approaching six months in Korea but have received no notice;
- your bill includes an unexpected earlier period;
- you changed from a student visa to a work visa;
- you left your employer;
- your dependent application was rejected;
- your registered address changed; or
- family members received separate bills.
How Much Is Korean Health Insurance in 2026?
There is no single premium paid by every foreign resident.
The calculation depends mainly on whether you are:
- employee-insured;
- a dependent; or
- a regional subscriber.
Employee Premiums in 2026
The 2026 employee National Health Insurance rate is 7.19% of the reported monthly average wage.
For an ordinary company employee, the health insurance premium is generally divided equally:
- Employer: 50%
- Employee: 50%
The employee’s share is normally deducted through payroll.
An additional Long-Term Care Insurance contribution is collected with the health insurance premium. In 2026, the Long-Term Care Insurance contribution equals 13.14% of the health insurance premium, corresponding to a wage-based rate of 0.9448%.
Example: Monthly insured wage of KRW 4,000,000
- Total health insurance premium: KRW 4,000,000 × 7.19% = KRW 287,600
- Employee health insurance share: KRW 143,800
- Employer health insurance share: KRW 143,800
- Employee Long-Term Care Insurance: approximately KRW 18,895
- Estimated employee deduction: approximately KRW 162,695
This is a simplified illustration. The actual deduction can differ because of officially reported remuneration, rounding, wage limits, non-wage income, and later payroll adjustments.
Regional Premiums in 2026
Regional premiums are not calculated from salary alone.
NHIS can consider:
- reportable income;
- property;
- household information;
- visa category;
- residence status; and
- applicable reduction rules.
NHIS’s 2026 premium notice lists the following average premium for foreign regional subscribers:
- Health insurance: KRW 140,210
- Long-Term Care Insurance: KRW 18,420
- Combined amount: KRW 158,630 per month
This is not a universal flat price or a personalized quotation. The final premium can be different depending on the subscriber’s income, property, visa, household treatment, and reduction eligibility.
Certain students holding D-2, D-4, or eligible F-4 statuses may receive a 50% reduction under current NHIS guidance. Other reductions apply to specified humanitarian, religious, rural, farming, fishing, island, or remote-area cases. Eligibility must be confirmed with NHIS rather than assumed from the visa name alone.
Can Foreign Family Members Receive One Regional Bill?
Foreign family members may be able to request collective family billing instead of receiving completely separate monthly notices.
However, household grouping is not automatic for every married couple.
NHIS requires:
- proof of the family relationship;
- a request for collective billing; and
- satisfaction of the applicable household conditions.
Current NHIS guidance also lists income and asset conditions for this treatment, including annual income below KRW 3.6 million and a standard asset value below KRW 135 million in the described household case. Ask NHIS to review your specific family rather than assuming that two regional subscribers can always be merged into one bill.
Interactive Tools for Foreign Residents
This guide can be paired with three practical orientation tools:
- Employee Premium Estimator — estimates the employee and employer split using the current wage-based rates.
- Dependent Eligibility Pre-Check — reviews basic relationship, residence, income, and document questions.
- Korean Medical Department Finder — helps match common English department names with Korean signs.
The companion portal prepared for this guide contains interactive versions of these tools.
Tool results should be treated as preliminary information:
- A regional premium cannot be determined from the published average alone.
- A dependent checker cannot replace an NHIS eligibility review.
- A department finder should help identify specialties, not diagnose symptoms.
- NHIS and the healthcare provider make the final official determinations.
How to Use National Health Insurance at a Korean Clinic
Once your insurance is active, using it at an ordinary clinic is usually straightforward.
Step 1: Choose the Medical Department
Korean clinics are commonly organized by specialty rather than around one registered family doctor.
Common signs include:
| Korean | English | Approximate pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 내과 | Internal Medicine | nae-gwa |
| 이비인후과 | Ear, Nose and Throat | i-bi-in-hu-gwa |
| 소아청소년과 | Pediatrics | so-a-cheong-so-nyeon-gwa |
| 정형외과 | Orthopedics | jeong-hyeong-oe-gwa |
| 피부과 | Dermatology | pi-bu-gwa |
| 안과 | Ophthalmology | an-gwa |
| 산부인과 | Obstetrics and Gynecology | san-bu-in-gwa |
| 신경과 | Neurology | sin-gyeong-gwa |
| 정신건강의학과 | Psychiatry and Mental Health | jeong-sin-geon-gang-ui-hak-gwa |
| 치과 | Dentistry | chi-gwa |
| 한의원 | Korean Medicine Clinic | han-ui-won |
For a common illness, you can normally visit a neighborhood clinic directly without first registering with one permanent primary care doctor.
Step 2: Bring Valid Identification
Since May 20, 2024, Korean healthcare institutions have generally been required to verify identity when providing health insurance benefits.
A foreign resident can normally use identification such as:
- a Residence Card;
- a permanent resident card;
- a domestic residence report card;
- a passport where accepted;
- another qualifying government-issued identification; or
- an approved mobile identity or health insurance service.
A screenshot or photograph of an identification card is generally not treated as valid electronic identification. Exceptions exist for certain minors, recent repeat visits, emergencies, prescriptions, and other specified situations.
Step 3: Confirm Whether the Service Is Covered
Ask the reception desk or doctor:
Is this covered by National Health Insurance?
건강보험 적용되나요?
Geongang boheom jeogyong doenayo?
You can also ask:
Is there any non-covered charge?
비급여 비용이 있나요?
Bigeubyeo biyongi innayo?
The Korean term 비급여, or non-covered service, means that NHIS does not pay for that particular service. The patient normally pays the full listed price.
Common examples can include:
- cosmetic dermatology;
- elective aesthetic procedures;
- many medical certificates;
- some manual therapy, or 도수치료;
- non-covered nutritional or vitamin IV treatments;
- particular medical materials;
- private or higher-grade room charges; and
- dental implants outside the cases eligible for NHI benefits.
Coverage can depend on the medical reason, diagnosis, age, service details, and provider. Do not assume that an entire department—such as dermatology or dentistry—is either fully covered or fully non-covered.
Step 4: Pay the Co-Payment
For routine insured care, the provider checks your eligibility electronically.
You normally pay:
- your co-payment for covered services; and
- the full amount of non-covered services.
Common adult co-payment rates for covered care include:
| Type of care | Common patient share |
|---|---|
| Inpatient care | 20% |
| Neighborhood clinic outpatient care | 30% |
| Hospital outpatient care | 40% |
| General hospital outpatient care | Usually 45% or 50%, depending on location |
| Tertiary hospital outpatient care | 60% plus applicable additional expenses |
| Pharmacy | 30% |
These are general rates. Special rules can apply according to age, pregnancy, registered serious disease, rare disease, the type of treatment, minor-condition policies, and other statutory categories.
Step 5: Take the Prescription to a Pharmacy
Korean clinics frequently issue an external prescription.
Take it to a pharmacy marked:
약국 — Pharmacy
The pharmacy will:
- verify the prescription;
- prepare the medicine;
- process the insured portion; and
- charge the applicable patient share.
For an ordinary insured clinic visit and prescription, you generally do not file a reimbursement claim with NHIS afterward. The clinic and pharmacy submit their insured claims through the Korean system.
Do You Need a Referral for a University Hospital?
Not every hospital with “university” in its name follows exactly the same referral rule. The important legal category is 상급종합병원, or designated tertiary hospital.
Korean insured care is divided broadly into:
- First-stage care: clinics, hospitals, and general hospitals other than designated tertiary hospitals
- Second-stage care: designated tertiary hospitals
To receive ordinary second-stage NHI benefits at a designated tertiary hospital, you generally need a referral document, called:
요양급여의뢰서 — Medical care referral document
A doctor at a first-stage medical institution normally issues the referral after deciding that tertiary-level care is needed.
Limited exceptions include legally specified cases such as emergencies, childbirth, dental care, certain rehabilitation care, family medicine, hemophilia care, and treatment of qualifying hospital employees.
What Does Korean National Health Insurance Cover?
Subject to medical necessity and detailed benefit rules, NHI can cover:
- medical consultations;
- diagnostic tests;
- laboratory testing;
- covered imaging;
- prescription medication;
- injections and procedures;
- surgery;
- hospitalization;
- rehabilitation;
- pregnancy and childbirth services;
- eligible preventive care; and
- National Health Insurance health screenings.
Foreign insured residents receive the same basic insurance-benefit structure as Korean citizens. This does not mean that every service is covered or that insured treatment is free.
National Health Insurance vs. Private Medical Insurance
Many people in Korea have both:
- Korean National Health Insurance; and
- private medical insurance.
National Health Insurance pays according to public benefit rules.
Private insurance may reimburse some co-payments or non-covered expenses depending on the policy. A common Korean term is 실손의료보험, often shortened to 실손보험 or 실비보험, meaning actual-loss medical insurance.
Private insurance does not automatically replace mandatory NHIS enrollment. It also does not guarantee reimbursement for every charge.
Before purchasing a private policy, check:
- whether foreign nationals are eligible;
- waiting periods;
- pre-existing condition rules;
- reimbursement percentages;
- non-covered service limits;
- required claim documents;
- renewal conditions; and
- what happens when your visa or employment changes.
What Happens When Your Employment Changes?
Your insurance route can change when you:
- start a new job;
- leave a job;
- move from employee coverage to regional coverage;
- become an approved dependent;
- lose dependent status;
- change visas; or
- leave Korea for an extended period.
After leaving an insured workplace, you should not assume that your coverage simply ends with no further action. You may be transferred to regional insurance or qualify under another family member.
Check your status promptly if you receive:
- a new regional premium notice;
- a retroactive bill;
- separate family bills; or
- a notice that dependent status has ended.
Practical Arrival Checklist
Use this checklist after moving to Korea:
- Complete foreign resident registration.
- Keep your registered Korean address updated.
- Ask your employer when workplace insurance begins.
- Review your first payslip for health and Long-Term Care Insurance deductions.
- Check whether your spouse and children qualify as dependents.
- Prepare Apostilled and translated family documents early.
- Do not assume an F-3 visa creates NHIS dependent status.
- Contact NHIS before or around the general six-month regional enrollment point.
- Open and review every NHIS letter or premium notice.
- Ask about covered and non-covered charges before expensive treatment.
- Bring valid identification to medical appointments.
- Obtain a referral before visiting a designated tertiary hospital when required.
How to Find an NHIS Office
NHIS operates ordinary branch offices and dedicated Centers for Foreign Residents.
To find the appropriate office:
- Open the official NHIS website.
- Search for Branch Office Search or NHIS Center.
- Enter your registered Korean address.
- Confirm whether your area is handled by a general branch or a foreign-resident center.
- Check the office hours and document requirements before visiting.
The NHIS Centers for Foreign Residents handle insurance eligibility and contribution matters for foreign nationals in designated areas.
What to Bring to an NHIS Office
Depending on your question, prepare:
- Residence Card;
- passport;
- NHIS notice or premium bill;
- employer name and employment dates;
- proof of employment or employment termination;
- marriage or birth certificate;
- Apostille or consular authentication;
- notarized Korean translation;
- proof of registered address;
- income or property documents requested by NHIS; and
- a Korean bank account document if arranging payment.
It is safer to call first because the required documents vary by case.
How to Contact NHIS in English
Main NHIS number in Korea: 1577-1000
Select extension 6 for supported foreign-language consultation.
Foreign-language consultation: 033-811-2000
From overseas: +82-33-811-2001
Official consultation hours are listed as 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Service availability can be affected by weekends and Korean public holidays.
Before calling, prepare:
- your Residence Card number;
- your visa type;
- your Korean entry date;
- your employer’s name;
- your registered address; and
- the reference number printed on your notice or bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Korean National Health Insurance mandatory for foreigners?
It is generally mandatory for eligible foreign employees at insured workplaces. Eligible registered foreign residents who are not employee subscribers or approved dependents are generally enrolled as regional subscribers after more than six months of residence. Different rules or enrollment dates can apply according to visa and residence circumstances.
Can a tourist enroll in NHIS?
Ordinary short-term tourists are generally outside the resident National Health Insurance system. Visitors should arrange suitable travel or international medical insurance for their stay.
Does receiving a Residence Card mean that I am insured?
No. A Residence Card establishes your registered immigration identity, but your NHIS coverage still depends on employment registration, regional eligibility, or approved dependent status.
Does an F-3 visa provide automatic health insurance?
No. An F-3 visa and NHIS dependent status are separate systems. An F-3 holder must qualify as an NHIS dependent or become insured through another eligible route.
Can my spouse become my dependent immediately?
A spouse may qualify without the general six-month dependent residence delay, but the spouse must still satisfy the relationship, income, property, and documentation requirements.
Can my parents become dependents immediately after entering Korea?
For people subject to the rule effective April 3, 2024, parents generally need at least six months of Korean residence before dependent registration. They must also satisfy the ordinary support, income, property, and document requirements.
Can my sibling become a dependent?
Only limited categories of unmarried siblings qualify. Age, disability or veterans-related status, income, property, cohabitation, and support requirements can all apply.
How much does Korean health insurance cost in 2026?
Employee subscribers pay a wage-based premium using the 7.19% health insurance rate, normally shared equally with the employer. Regional premiums depend on income, property, visa, household status, and reductions. The published 2026 foreign regional average is KRW 158,630 including Long-Term Care Insurance.
Can a married regional-subscriber couple receive one bill?
Possibly, but not automatically. The family must submit relationship documents and request collective billing. NHIS also applies household eligibility conditions, so each couple should request an individual review.
Do students receive a discount?
Certain D-2, D-4, and eligible F-4 student cases may receive a 50% reduction under current NHIS guidance. The discount can depend on the household and other eligibility conditions.
Does NHI cover 100% of medical costs?
No. Patients generally pay a co-payment for covered treatment and the full cost of non-covered treatment.
Do I need to file a claim after every clinic visit?
Usually not. The clinic, hospital, or pharmacy processes the insured portion electronically. You pay your co-payment and non-covered charges at the provider.
Do I need a referral for a university hospital?
A referral is generally required for standard insured care at a designated tertiary hospital. A hospital with a university name is not necessarily a designated tertiary hospital, so confirm the institution’s official category and referral policy.
Can I use a photograph of my Residence Card at a clinic?
A photograph or screenshot is generally not accepted as valid electronic identification. Bring the original card or use an officially accepted electronic identity method.
What should I do if my bill appears incorrect?
Contact NHIS promptly. Ask the representative to verify:
- your eligibility start date;
- employment history;
- visa information;
- entry and departure history;
- registered address;
- dependent status;
- household treatment; and
- applicable reductions.
Do not ignore the bill while waiting for the issue to correct itself.
Final Summary
Understanding Korean National Health Insurance becomes easier when you answer three questions:
- Am I registered through employment, as a dependent, or as a regional subscriber?
- Who is responsible for the premium?
- Is the medical service covered, partly covered, or non-covered?
Foreign employees are generally registered through their workplace. Eligible family members can apply for dependent status, but relationship alone is not sufficient. Income, property, residence, support, and documentation requirements also apply.
Foreign residents outside the workplace and dependent systems generally enter regional insurance after the applicable residence period. Their premium is not determined by visa or salary alone.
At a clinic, bring valid identification, confirm that your insurance is active, ask about non-covered charges, and pay the required co-payment. Before using a designated tertiary hospital, confirm whether you need a referral.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about Korean National Health Insurance for foreign residents. It is not legal, immigration, medical, tax, financial, or insurance advice.
Eligibility, coverage dates, dependent status, household grouping, premium calculations, reductions, document requirements, and medical benefits can vary according to individual circumstances and regulatory changes.
Confirm your current situation directly with the National Health Insurance Service, your employer, the relevant healthcare provider, or an appropriately qualified professional before making an important financial, immigration, or medical decision.
Official References
- NHIS Guidance for Foreigners: employee enrollment, regional enrollment, dependent requirements, required documents, reductions, and household billing.
- NHIS 2026 Contribution Rates: employee rate and regional contribution calculation.
- NHIS 2026 Premium Notice: foreign regional average premium and Long-Term Care Insurance figures.
- NHIS Insurance Benefits: covered services and general co-payment rates.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: foreign-dependent six-month residence requirement.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: healthcare identity verification requirements.
- NHIS Rules on Tertiary Hospital Referrals: first-stage and second-stage medical care procedures.
- NHIS Foreign-Language Support and Centers: contact numbers, consultation hours, and foreign-resident offices.