Korea implements a health insurance system wherein a personpays a certain monthly premium according to his/her income andassets.
Subscribers to the national health insurance can access medicalservices at a low price if they are sick, give birth, or simply wantto have a regular medical check-up. All citizens are required tosubscribe to the national health insurance, with the exception ofbeneficiaries of medical aid. Subscribers to the national healthinsurance system can be categorized into local subscribers andemployee subscribers. All employees of businesses, employers,public officers and teachers are categorized as employeesubscribers. Those whose livelihood depends on the incomeof employee subscribers may be registered as the subscribers'dependents if meeting the dependence requirements and incomerequirements as set forth in the Enforcement Decree of NationalHealth. Other subscribers and the family members supported byemployee subscribers are categorized as local subscribers.
For company subscribers, the company pays for 50% of the medical insurance fee (applies onlyfor salaries taken from company), and individuals have to pay the remaining 50%. Individuals whohave separate income exceeding 34 million won must pay the full insurance fee with 100% of theinsurance rate applied, after 34 million won is deducted from the total income.
When a health insurance policyholder receives treatment from a hospital, the National HealthInsurance Corporation pays a portion of the medical fee. The policyholder can receive treatmentfrom hospitals, medical centers, or oriental medical clinics. However, the other portion must be paidby the patient. There are also medical checkup benefits. The number of checkups provided will differdepending on age. Most people with insurance have a medical checkup every other year.

Foreign residents who are registered and who work at businesses covered by employee subscriber policies, or foreign residents appointed as public officers and teachers, are granted the status of employee subscribers. Foreign residents who are registered and foreigners covered by attached Table 9 of the enforcement decree of the National Health Insurance Act Insurance, foreign residents who are registered and foreigners covered by attached Table 9 of the enforcement decree of the National Health Insurance Act and who are not categorized as employee subscriber or dependents of employee subscribers may gain the status of local subscribers after having lived in Korea for six months or longer (immediately after entering Korea for marriage immigrants or qualification to stay as an exchange student).
However, a foreign resident who receives medical security equivalent to the National Health Insurance through the laws of his/her country or contracts with a foreign insurance provider may be exempted from subscription to the national health insurance upon request.

You may register as a dependent* on the spouse’s National Health Insurance. Submit documents confirming dependency to the National Health Insurance Corporation.

For detailed information on premiums, qualifications, and benefits of national health insurance, visitthe National Health Insurance Corporation website or call the main number (☎1577-1000) or foreignlanguage (English, Chinese, and Vietnamese) information service (☎033-811-2000).