Korean Health Insurance for Foreigners: Costs and Rules
A foreign friend once asked me why a Korean health insurance bill had arrived automatically. We had already checked banking and phone verification, but health insurance involved different rules. I reviewed the current National Health Insurance Service guidance with my friend. The first lesson was clear: Korean health insurance for foreigners depends on employment, residence period, visa status and family eligibility. Table of Contents ▶ 1. Who Must Join Korean Health Insurance? Foreign residents can receive Korean National Health Insurance coverage as workplace-insured members, regional subscribers or eligible dependents. A foreign employee generally becomes workplace-insured when working at a business covered by the National Health Insurance system. Registered foreign residents who are not workplace members or dependents may become regional subscribers. For many eligible foreign residents, mandatory regional coverage begins after living in Korea for more than six months. Ho...