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The National Health Insurance Company (NHIC) is a program that is supervised by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and provides medical services to their insureds. Individuals who are eligible for this insurance coverage include employees of the Government, military personnel, and employees of private schools and members of their family as well as foreign employees teaching English in Korea.

Teachers/private school employees’ insurance contributions are based upon their income which amount is set by the NHIC as established by the Insurance Finance Committee. Responsibility for payment falls upon both you, the employee and the employer at the school and is broken down as follows: The school owner contributes only 30% and you are required to pay 50% of your insurance. However, the Government subsidizes 20% of the total insurance premium. Payments are required to be made by employers and teachers on a monthly basis by the 10th day of each month.

Insurance premiums paid by private school teachers are based on their income. This amounts to 3.94% of monthly wages and salaries and by law, must be less than 8% of gross income. Calculations begin with minimum monthly wages of 280,000 Won; however, there is no ceiling.

After the Korean War, the Government of South Korea began instituting services for the people in many areas of their lives. Between the years of 1974 and 1983, there was a dramatic increase in health care personnel with the addition of many more doctors, nurses, pharmacists and dentists. In 1974, there were 2,207 people per physician and in 1983, the number decreased to 1,509. General hospitals in 1974 were 36 with an increase in 1983 to 156. Hospital beds in 1974 numbered 19,062 and increased to 59,099 in 1983. Insurance programs for native Koreans began in the 1960’s and provisions for coverage for private school employees were implemented in 1979. It is currently estimated that 1.4 million Government/private school employees are insured in Korea.

The NHIC has seven branches where you can obtain applications for medical insurance. After completing alien registration forms at the Korean Immigration Bureau, foreign workers may apply for insurance coverage. Enrollment applications should be given to your employer at the private school who is then responsible for submitting all necessary documents to the NHIC.

Upon employment in Korea, you have several medical insurance options. The employer at the private school is required by law to offer foreign workers Korean medical insurance coverage. Another option is for you to sign up for comprehensive medical coverage through your country of origin. In addition to the Korean medical scheme, there are several private insurance providers from whom to choose. If the Korean medical scheme is chosen, the premium is automatically deducted from your salary each month.

Medical insurance coverage does not begin until the school registers the you for an alien residency card, which should be done as soon as possible after you enter the country with an E2 visa stamp on your passport.

According to law, the Alien Registration Card process must be completed within ninety days of your entry into Korea. The cost of completing the registration process is approximately $15US. It is important that you receive a medical card to prove membership in the medical plan so that medical help could be obtained at a Korean clinic if needed.

Foreign teachers and their dependents receive the same medical benefits as Korean nationals. When they receive treatment at hospitals or medical clinics, they are required to pay from 20% to 50% of all charges considered applicable by NIH. For prescription drugs purchased at a pharmacy, you will pay 30% of the amount considered applicable by NIH.

Services provided under the Korean medical scheme are as follows: diagnosis, tests, medical materials, prescription drugs, treatments, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, nursing and transportation. Medical concerns which are not required to assist the individual in daily life such as cosmetic surgery, hair loss, acne, warts and impotence are not covered.

In order to receive second stage health care treatment, you must initially receive a referral from a first stage health treatment doctor. He or she must have the opinion that further medical treatment is needed. This is similar to HMO’s in the United States which require patients to see their primary care doctor first in order to receive a referral to a specialist. However, in certain situations, you are not required to obtain a referral from a first stage health treatment doctor such as in emergency situations, when giving birth to a child or for dental treatment.

The NIH provides preventive health check-up services every two years for employees and their dependents over the age of forty for early detection of chronic degenerative diseases including but not limited to diabetes and high blood pressure. In order to be eligible for this free service, you must be a member of the Korean medical scheme for more than two years.

If you or one of your dependents have received medical treatment at a health care facility and were required to make co-payments in excess of 1,200,000 won within a period of thirty days, you will be compensated for 50% of this amount by NHIC. In addition, if you or a dependent received emergency medical care at a clinic or hospital not covered by your insurance, NHIC will refund the expenses for which you would ordinarily receive coverage under your existing insurance. Documentation must be provided in order to receive this refund.

NOTE: Workers who are members of the Korean medical scheme may only use local Government clinics or hospitals. This insurance does not provide medical coverage at private clinics or hospitals. Additionally, if you wish to travel to another country on holiday, you should obtain comprehensive travel insurance coverage from your country of origin as none of the Korean medical insurers cover illness treated outside of Korea. Japan, in particular, has very high medical costs and consequently higher insurance charges.

It is not required by law that you obtain medical insurance but we strongly suggest that you do so.

Insurance coverage ends either on the last day which is covered by your last payment if you fail to continue to pay insurance fees or on the day you leave Korea permanently. Further questions about medical insurance coverage in Korea and information about locations of National Health Insurance Offices may be accessed at www.nhic.or.kr.