Social Security System in Korea

The social security system of Korea has three components: social insurance, public assistance, and social welfare service.

Please refer to National Health Insurance Service website for further information.

National Health Insurance (NHI)

The Korean National Health Insurance(NHI) system covers the entire population residing within the territory of Korea except for beneficiaries of medical aid. The major source of financing is mainly contributions from the insured and subsidies from the government.

Any international student staying in Korea without health insurance is subject to the mandatory to the National Health Insurance of Korea from March 1, 2021. Even if an international student do not report to the National Health Insurance Service(NHIS), NHIS automatically processes the registration.

Please refer to National Health Insurance Service booklet for further information.

Enrollment Time

Enrollment Time

Visa Type	Enrollment Time
Overseas study (D-2) - Exchange, Visiting Students	Foreigner Registration Date, Re-entry Date
General Training (D-4) - KLI Students	Six month after the entry date
Overseas Korean students	On the date of admission into a school

[Note]

• A NHI card and Subscription Guide are sent to your residential address in Korea
• Before receiving the Foreigner Registration Card, you can use National Health Insurance by issuing ‘Certificate of Foreigner Registration’[외국인등록사실증명] from the Immigration and Foreign Offices.

[Private insurance prior to foreigner registration]

It will take around 6 to 8 weeks to apply for and receive the Alien Registration Card. In other words, the subscription to National Health Insurance Corporation will be processed in 6 to 8 week period. This results in a 6-8 weeks where one will not be covered by insurance. It is recommended for international students to subscribe to a personal insurance valid for 2 to 3 months from the moment of arrival to Korea, or subscribe to private insurance product by the company below.

• 중앙인스코리아
  • Website : http://n.foreignerdb.com/indivi/
  • Tel. : +82-2-776-8500
  • E-mail : info@insclick.com

When receiving medical care from a hospital, co-payment may occur even when subscribed to National Health Insurance, and considerable amount of co-payment may occur for treatments not covered by this insurance product. In preparation, many Koreans subscribe to additional insurance product to broaden the coverage, which is also available to international students. If one wishes to subscribe to additional private insurance product, contact the insurance company for help.

Request for submission of Agreement form for collection and usage of personal information

In the event of defaulting health insurance premiums, the NHIS will forward the records of arrears to the immigration office, and the immigration office restricts the extension of visas for such students. Thus, school needs to check the list of students in arrears. For such purpose students are advised to submit the form.

1) What to do

1. In case of those holding Foreigner Registration Card, upload the form onto Yonsei Portal by the designated due.
2. Other students yet to enter the country, upload the form as soon as you acquire the Foreigner Registration card.

2) How to upload the form

• Access Yonsei Portal System
• Log in → Student Record → Student Information
• Fill in Foreigner Registration Number in the Modification of Personal Data Menu
• Upload Personal Information Agreement Form

[Yonsei Portal page for uploading Personal Information Agreement Form]

1. The NHI contribution for international students in 2022 : KRW 56,030/month

   Insurance may change every year.

2. Payment method
   • Pay the NHI contribution bill sent by 25th of every month with the credit or debit card / visiting the NHI local offices / paying at the bank and etc.
   • The NHI office mails a bill to the address of each student’s foreigner registration card on the 11th or 15th of every month.
   • You can apply for the bill by an email or mobile message. The application is available at the NHIS website or NHI call center.

Benefits & Co-payment Rate

Insurance benefits are available from the date of enrollment(The same benefits as the Korean citizens).

Various benefits are available, including dental and oriental medical treatment, health checkups, and pregnancy and childbirth-related medical expenses.

You can go to any hospital, because every hospital and pharmacy in Korea provides the NHI insurance service by law.

The above is inapplicable to non-covered items, such as treatment for diseases that do not affect work or daily life (example: plastic surgery).

A person who receives medical care benefits bears part of the medical expenses as below.

medical care benefits bears part of the medical expenses

Type	Co-Payment
Outpatient Medical Services Expenses	30%-60% of the NHI covering expenses (varies by medical care institution type and area)
Hospitalization Expenses	20%

(General Health Checkups) For office worker, general health checkups are available biannually depending on your year of birth(Annually for non-office worker)

Please refer to National Health Insurance Service website for further information.

Disadvantages with Non-payment of Contributions

1) Restrictions on Health Insurance Benefits

Health Insurance benefits at medical care institutions are unavailable from the first day of the month following the payment deadline until the contribution is fully paid.

2) Restrictions on Visa Extension

Your stay in Korea may not be extended by the Korea Immigration Service

• (Exception)The restriction on visa extension does not apply if the contribution in arrears is less than KRW 500,000 or if other collection in arrears are less than KRW 100,000.

3) Dispositions on Default

The NHIS may demand payment by the specified period. Where a person fails to pay the insurance contributions by the specified period, compulsory collection procedures to seize his/her real estate, automobile, deposit, and so on may proceed.

• The contributions in arrears may be paid in installments. The restriction on health insurance benefits will be lifted and made available once such installments are fully paid.

If you default on health insurance contributions, health insurance benefits are limited, and even if you pay the arrears in full later on, you will not be reimbursed for medical expenses retrospectively. Therefore, please be careful not to default on insurance contributions.

National Health Insurance Exclusion Application

1) Please check with NHIS call center for detailed exception conditions.

2) Required Document

Documents verifying that medical guarantee, such as applications for exclusion of membership, insurance certificates, etc. is available

• France: exclusion application form(양식첨부)(exclusion processes after checking Nationality)
• Japan: Japan health insurance card, exclusion application form(양식첨부)
• U.S.A: Uniform Card or Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card, exclusion application form(양식첨부)

For documents in foreign languages, you can submit the original and Korean translation number together. (Apostille certification and translation notarization are not required.)

If you would like to apply for a subscription exception, please contact the NHIS (Tel. 1577-1000) first and prepare the documents.

Please refer to National Health Insurance Service website for further information.

The NHIS Center for Foreign Residents (Seoul and Metropolitan Area)

The NHIS Center for Foreign Residents (Seoul and Metropolitan Area)

Center Name	Location	Center Information
Seoul Center	3rd floor, Sindorim Techno Mart(Upmu-dong), 97, Seamal-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul
Incheon Center	7th floor, Bupyeongdaero Post Office, 88 Bupyeong-daero, Bupeyong-gu, Incheon