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Health coverage

Medical cost pathways

Treatment cost paths by health insurance status Workplace employment and length of stay split the flow into three branches: workplace subscriber, local subscriber and no health insurance. The uninsured branch leads on to the medical support program, treatment-fee reductions and deferred payment for emergency care. The same content appears in the text below. Foreigners staying in Korea Employed at a workplace? Have you stayed in Korea 6 months or more, or hold a status such as Student or Marriage Migration? Not enrolled in health insurance Workplace subscriber Patient share is the same as for Koreans Local subscriber After enrollment the patient share is the same as for Koreans Medical support program Inpatient and surgery costs Ministry of Health and Welfare Treatment fee reduction Regional public hospitals Red Cross hospitals Emergency care Regardless of status of stay Deferred payment Yes Yes No No
View as steps

  1. Employee enrollment

    Yes Anyone employed at a workplace becomes an employee subscriber. The premium is split with the employer, and the patient share of costs is the same as for Koreans. A spouse and children are registered as dependants.

    No Step 2 applies.

  2. Local enrollment

    Yes A stay of 6 months or more in Korea brings enrollment as a local subscriber. Some statuses of stay, including student (D-2) and marriage migration (F-6), enroll immediately on entry. After enrollment the co-payment is the same as for Korean nationals.

    No Foreigners without status, asylum seekers, and short-term visitors of under 6 months fall under step 3.

  3. Not enrolled in health insurance

    The Ministry of Health and Welfare medical support program for migrant workers and others covers inpatient and surgical costs. Regional medical centers and Red Cross hospitals reduce treatment fees. Emergency care is available regardless of status of stay, and the deferred-payment program for emergency medical costs allows hospital bills to be repaid afterward.

    Children receive vaccinations regardless of status of stay. Pregnancy and childbirth are partly covered by the public health center's maternal support program.

Source: National Health Insurance Service, MOHW Medical Support Program for Migrant Workers and Others, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, UNHCR Korea medical support guidance.

Note: Requirements change from year to year. Actual eligibility follows each agency's notice, and this page is not legal advice.

Medical interpretation

Three options are open when a hospital has no interpreter: a three-way call by phone, a request for an interpreter to come with you, or a hospital with an international healthcare centre.

In-person interpretation at hospitals

The Seoul Metropolitan Government runs a medical interpretation team. It covers 10 languages: Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Mongolian, English, Khmer, Japanese, Thai, Hindi and Urdu. Foreigners who live in Seoul or who work or study there may apply. Applications go through the Seoul Global Portal or the Hanulteori website, and questions go to the Dongbu Foreign Resident Center (070-4523-1394).

Seoul Global Portal, Hanulteori.

International healthcare centers

University hospitals and large general hospitals have international clinics where registration and care are available in some languages. Languages and hours differ by hospital, so check with the hospital before visiting.

Three-way calls

The patient, the interpreter and the medical staff join one call and speak in turn. The patient calls the interpretation line first and selects a language, then hands the hospital phone to the connected interpreter or turns on the speakerphone.

Checklist

Bring a passport, alien registration card, or health insurance card if you have one. Write down the name of any medicine you are taking. Interpretation calls can have a wait, so connect before you register at the desk.

Source: Danuri portal guide to the Danuri Call Center, Ministry of Justice guide to the Immigration Contact Center, BBB Korea usage guide, Seoul Metropolitan Government guide to the Donghaeng medical interpretation team, Ministry of Health and Welfare integrated guide to emergency medical counseling.

Note: The number of languages and the hours are the values each organization has published and can change.

Guidance by situation

Premium arrears

A local subscriber who does not pay premiums can be restricted from extending their status of stay. Arrears and installment payment are handled by the National Health Insurance Service.

Child vaccination

Vaccination is available regardless of status of stay. Apply at a public health center, where a vaccination record can be kept even without a registration number.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Public health center maternal programs cover prenatal tests and part of delivery costs. Requirements differ by local government.

Cost of care

In an emergency, the deferred-payment program for emergency medical costs lets the bill be repaid afterward. When the case is not an emergency, check the medical support program for migrant workers and others or a regional medical center's fee reduction first.

Nearby organizations

192 organizations carry the health care tag, out of 1,715 that support immigrants. To narrow the search by region, go to the organization list on the resource map.

Search the organization list

References

National Health Insurance Service, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, The Ministry of Health and Welfare medical support program for foreign workers, UNHCR Korea health support guide, Danuri Call Center, Immigration Contact Center, BBB Korea, Seoul Donghaeng Medical Interpretation Support Team.