What a foreign patient pays depends on health insurance enrollment. There are three tracks, workplace subscriber, local subscriber, and uninsured, and the programs available differ by track.
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.
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.
Ministry of Health and Welfare Medical Support Program for Migrant Workers and Others covers inpatient and surgical costs. Public regional hospitals and Red Cross hospitals reduce their fees. Emergency care is available regardless of status of stay, and Emergency medical cost deferred payment lets a patient repay hospital costs afterwards.
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.
The patient share of costs and the steps to use care differ by type of enrollment. The status of stay affects eligibility to enroll, and it does not set the cost of care itself.
Employment at a workplace covered by health insurance brings enrollment from the first day of work, with the same benefits as Korean nationals. The co-payment runs from 20% to 30%, and the premium is split in half with the workplace.
Administered by: Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Service
Anyone who is not enrolled through an employer, has completed foreign registration, and has stayed six months or longer has been required to enroll since July 2019. A floor premium applies even at low income and assets. Some statuses, including study (D-2), non-professional employment (E-9), permanent residence (F-5) and marriage migration (F-6), may enroll immediately on arrival. Unpaid premiums are reported to Ministry of Justice.
Administered by: Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Service
Medical aid is in principle for Korean nationals. Refugees recognized under the Refugee Act become eligible under Article 3-2 of the Medical Care Assistance Act, and marriage migrants married to a Korean national or raising a minor child who holds Korean nationality can also become eligible under the enforcement decree of the same act.
Agency: Ministry of Health and Welfare
This covers short-term visitors of under 6 months, foreigners without status, people in arrears on premiums, and new arrivals still completing 6 months. The rule is that they pay the full cost of care, so the support programs below apply.
Administered by: none
Source: NHIS guide for foreigners, Medical Care Assistance Act, Refugee Act.
Note: The minimum premium and the enrollment requirements change by public notice. Check the amount with the National Health Insurance Service.
Where a patient cannot pay immediately after emergency treatment, the emergency medical fund pays the hospital first and later bills the patient and anyone liable. There is no nationality or visa condition (the Emergency Medical Service Act Article 22). The hospital files a claim for the unpaid emergency care.
Administered by: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service
Migrant workers and their spouses and children under 18 who qualify for neither health insurance nor medical aid, marriage migrants before naturalization and their children, and asylum seekers and their children are eligible. The program pays 90% of inpatient and surgical costs with a 10% co-payment, up to 3 million won per episode. If total treatment costs exceed 6 million won, an excess-cost statement can be filed and further support given within the budget. Outpatient care is excluded as a rule, with prenatal checkups and outpatient visits for children under 18 as exceptions. Applications are made in person at a participating regional medical center, Red Cross hospital or the National Medical Center.
Administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Enquiries: the National Medical Center Public Health Care Support Center 02-6362-3751
the Korea Migrants' Health Association WeFriends runs a medical mutual aid scheme. A member paying 10,000 won a month receives half of inpatient and surgical costs up to one million won. UNHCR Korea publishes medical support information for refugees and asylum seekers.
Administered by: private organizations. Check program periods and eligibility with each organization
Free clinics run by faith and civic groups such as Raphael Clinic, and clinics for migrant workers, treat patients regardless of registration status. To find one nearby, see the medical category of the service map.
Agency: private sector
Source: Government24 medical support program for migrant workers and others, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, UNHCR Korea, Raphael Clinic.
Note: The support limits and the eligibility rules change each year by public notice. Check with the participating hospital or the administering body before applying.
When a hospital has no interpreter, the options are a three-way telephone call, a request for an accompanying interpreter, and hospitals with an international clinic.
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).
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.
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.
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 Danuri Call Center guidance, Ministry of Justice Immigration Contact Center guidance, BBB Korea usage guide, Seoul Donghaeng medical interpretation team, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare emergency care information line.
Note: The number of languages and the hours are the values each organization has published and can change.
Unpaid premiums by a regionally enrolled member can restrict a visa extension. For arrears and instalment plans, check with National Health Insurance Service.
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.
Public health center maternal programs cover prenatal tests and part of delivery costs. Requirements differ by local government.
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.
The studies this page draws on. The link beside each title opens the original.
205 organizations carry the health care tag, out of 1,893 that support immigrants. To narrow the search by region, see Support organization list.
Search the organization listNational 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.