National Health Insurance (NHIS)

It's mandatory and good value. Here's how Korea's health insurance works for you.

In short

Korea's National Health Insurance (NHIS) is mandatory for foreigners staying 6+ months. You have to join, and it's very good value for what you pay.
Employed? Your employer enrolls you from day one and splits the premium 50/50 (your share is about 3.5–4% of salary).
Not employed? You become a "local subscriber" after 6 months, paying a flat-ish premium (roughly ₩80,000–₩160,000/month). D-2/D-4 students get a ~50% discount.
NHIS covers 60–80% of most medical costs. A clinic visit often ends up around ₩5,000–₩10,000. Unpaid premiums can block your visa extension.

Healthcare in Korea is very good value. You can walk into a clinic, see a doctor within about 20 minutes, get a prescription next door, and pay under ₩15,000 total. NHIS is the reason it's so cheap. Enrollment is also required by law and tied directly to your right to stay.

Who has to enroll, and when

Employed foreigners: your employer must enroll you as a "workplace subscriber" (직장가입자) from your first day, regardless of how long you've been in Korea.
Everyone else (students, freelancers, unemployed, dependents): mandatory enrollment as a "local subscriber" (지역가입자) once you've been in Korea 6 months.
Faster enrollment: certain visas (D-2, E-9, F-5, F-6, and others) are typically enrolled from the moment you get your ARC, skipping the 6-month wait.

The 6-month clock starts from your entry date, not your ARC date. Many people assume it begins when they register their ARC, but it doesn't. Mark 6 months from your arrival on your calendar so the bill doesn't surprise you.

What it costs

For employees, the total health-insurance rate in 2026 is about 7.09–7.19% of gross salary, split evenly with your employer, so your share is roughly 3.5–4% (including the small Long-Term Care add-on). On a ₩3,000,000 salary that's around ₩120,000/month from your pay.

For local subscribers (not employed), foreigners pay a flat-rate premium based on the previous year's average instead of the complex Korean scoring system. It's commonly in the ₩80,000–₩160,000/month range. D-2 and D-4 students get about a 50% discount, bringing it down to roughly ₩76,000–₩80,000/month.

Check your payslip. Your employee deduction should be about half the total rate (~3.5%), not the full ~7%. Some smaller employers have been known to incorrectly charge foreigners the full amount, so check the numbers carefully.

What it covers (and doesn't)

NHIS covers 60–80% of most outpatient visits, hospital stays, prescriptions and major surgery. You pay the rest as a co-pay. A neighborhood clinic (의원) visit typically costs you ₩5,000–₩10,000, plus a few thousand won for medication. There's also a cap on annual out-of-pocket costs for serious illness (cancer, major surgery), so a big hospital bill won't ruin you financially. NHIS works at virtually every hospital and pharmacy, with no network restrictions.

Not well covered: most dental, vision, elective MRIs, and much of talk therapy/counseling. People often use supplemental private insurance for these gaps.

The first-6-months gap

If you're not employed, you have no NHIS coverage for your first 6 months, so you'd pay 100% out of pocket for any care. You can cover that gap with a short-term international plan (roughly $50–$150/month from providers like Cigna, AXA, Pacific Prime), or check whether your home-country travel insurance covers the start of a long stay.

How to enroll and pay

Employed → nothing to do

Your employer registers you. Confirm with HR within your first month, and check your payslip shows the right deduction.

Not employed → NHIS usually auto-enrolls you

NHIS monitors your ARC and residency and mails a bill to your registered address after 6 months. To enroll or check manually, visit an NHIS branch with your ARC and passport, or call the helpline.

Set up auto-debit (자동이체)

Link your Korean bank account for automatic payment. Don't skip this one. A missed payment blocks your coverage and, if debts build up, your visa renewal.

Add dependents if eligible

You can add a spouse/children as dependents (피부양자), often at no extra premium, with apostilled, translated proof of relationship, if they meet residency and income/asset limits.

Common questions

Can I opt out if I have foreign insurance?

No. NHIS is mandatory for eligible residents regardless of any private or home-country insurance. Those can only be used on top of NHIS.

What if I don't pay?

Missed payments block your coverage (you pay 100% at clinics), and unpaid premiums above a threshold flag your immigration record. The officer will see it and can deny your visa extension. Set up auto-pay to be safe.

What if I leave Korea for a while?

Leaving for more than 30 consecutive days may suspend coverage/premiums depending on your visa, so let NHIS know. Short trips don't interrupt the 6-month count for new enrollees.

Is there English support?

Yes. Call the NHIS multilingual line (1577-1000, or 033-811-2000 for foreign languages). The NHIS website and app also have an English interface.

Sources: National Health Insurance Service (nhis.or.kr), and current NHIS foreigner guidance. 2026 premium rate (~7.09–7.19%) and figures per NHIS; rates are revised annually.

Last verified: July 2026. Premium rates and rules change yearly and vary by visa and income, so confirm current figures at nhis.or.kr or call 1577-1000. General information, not legal or medical advice.

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