National Health Insurance for Foreigners in Korea (2026): Enrollment, Premiums, Arrears

Since 16 July 2019, most registered foreigners in Korea are automatically enrolled in National Health Insurance (국민건강보험, NHIS) as regional subscribers (지역가입자) unless an employer covers them. You don't sign up; NHIS just starts billing you. Many newcomers find out the hard way, when a paper bill in Korean arrives or a visa extension gets flagged for unpaid premiums.

Two ways foreigners are covered

• Workplace subscriber (직장가입자) — if you are employed at a workplace covered by NHIS, your employer enrols you from your first day. In 2026 the rate is 7.19% of your monthly pay, split 50/50 with your employer (your share 3.595%), plus long-term-care insurance, deducted from salary.
• Regional subscriber (지역가입자) — if you are not covered through work, you are automatically enrolled once you have stayed in Korea for 6 months after registering. Students (D-2, and some D-4) and certain other statuses (e.g. E-9, F-5, F-6) are enrolled from registration/entry without the 6-month wait.

Short-term statuses (B, C visas) are not covered.

When does coverage start? (as of Oct 2026)

*Source: NHIS "Foreign subscribers in Korea" guide (nhis.or.kr).*

The 6-month count resets if you leave once for more than a month, and there are rules for multiple trips adding up to more than 30 days.

How much? (2026)

• Regional premiums are based on income and property. If the calculated amount is below the national average premium, foreigners pay the average. For 2026 that's 158,630 KRW/month, including long-term care insurance (NHIS).
• Students (D-2, D-4) with monthly income of 300,000 KRW or less and property tax base of 135 million KRW or less get a 50% reduction: about 79,320 KRW/month from March 2026 (university notices based on NHIS figures).
• F-5 and F-6 households are assessed like Korean nationals.
• Employees pay a share of salary-based premiums; the employer pays the same amount.

Why paying on time matters

• Benefits are restricted if you fall behind. Student guidance from universities says benefits stop from the 1st of the month after next following the due date.
• Immigration checks arrears. Unpaid premiums can shorten or delay visa extensions.
• Premiums are paid in advance: next month's premium is due by the 25th of each month.

The full guide covers how to check your status, set up auto-debit and e-billing, add family members, apply for exclusion if you have equivalent coverage, deal with arrears, and stop billing when you leave Korea.

Step 1 — Check your enrollment status

• App: "The건강보험" (NHIS official app). Log in with simple authentication or a certificate using your ARC number.
• Phone: 1577-1000, with foreign-language support (choose the language option), or the NHIS foreigner support lines listed on nhis.or.kr.
• Visit: any NHIS branch (지사). Bring your passport and ARC.

Phrase: "건강보험 가입 상태 확인하고 싶어요. 외국인등록증 여기 있어요." *(I'd like to check my health insurance status. Here's my ARC.)*

Step 2 — Make sure bills reach you

NHIS mails bills to the address on your ARC. Paper bills usually arrive around the middle of the month.

• Moved? Report the new address to immigration within 15 days; NHIS uses that data.
• Sign up for e-billing (전자고지) by email or mobile. University notices say this gives a 200 KRW/month discount.

Step 3 — Pay automatically

Options:

1. Auto-debit (자동이체) from your Korean bank account. Set it up in the app, at a branch, or at your bank. Bring your bank card and ARC.
2. Virtual account (가상계좌) printed on the bill.
3. Convenience store or bank counter with the paper bill.
4. Card payment through the app.

Step 4 — Add family (세대합가)

If your spouse and children under 19 live with you at the same address, you can be billed as one household instead of paying separate premiums for each person.

• [ ] Application at an NHIS branch
• [ ] Family relationship or marriage document issued by your home country, apostilled (or confirmed by your foreign ministry/consulate)
• [ ] Notarized Korean translation
• [ ] ARCs of all family members

Employees: your family may be registered as dependents (피부양자) of a workplace subscriber if they meet income and property criteria. Ask your HR team to file it.

Step 5 — Exclusion (가입제외), if you really have other coverage

You can apply to be excluded if:

• your home-country law or an insurance contract gives you medical coverage in Korea equivalent to NHIS, or
• your foreign employer provides equivalent coverage.

Bring the policy certificate (with a Korean translation) showing coverage in Korea and the coverage period. Private travel insurance generally does not qualify. Exclusion takes effect from the application date, not retroactively, so apply early.

Step 6 — If you have arrears

1. Check the total on the app or by calling 1577-1000.
2. Pay in full, or ask about installment payment (분할납부).
3. Keep the payment confirmation (납부확인서). Bring it to your visa extension appointment if arrears were flagged.

Phrase: "체납된 보험료가 있어요. 분할납부 가능한가요?" *(I have unpaid premiums. Can I pay in installments?)*

Step 7 — Leaving Korea

• Coverage ends on the day after your stay expires, or the day after departure if you're away over 1 month, among other cases.
• If you leave for good, check that billing has stopped and pay any final bill. Unpaid premiums show up if you return to Korea later.
• Refunds of overpaid premiums go to your Korean account, so don't close it before you check.

What NHIS covers (briefly)

Same benefits as Korean nationals: hospital and clinic visits with co-payments (outpatient patients typically pay a share, inpatients around 20%), prescriptions, and free general health checkups for eligible adults. In 2026, people aged 20+ born in an even-numbered year are eligible. Check the NHIS app for your status.

Monthly cost examples (2026, indicative)

Your first bill

• NHIS mails the bill to the address on your residence card. If you moved and did not report it, you will not get the bill — but you still owe it. Report address changes to immigration within 14 days; NHIS is updated automatically.
• No bill after 6 months? Call 1577-1000 or visit a branch with your residence card and ask for your insurance certificate (자격득실확인서) and payment status.
• Install "The건강보험" app or use the NHIS website to see bills and print certificates.

Using it at the hospital

• Show your residence card at any clinic or hospital; NHIS is applied automatically. Typical co-pay at a neighbourhood clinic is around 30% of covered costs.
• Big university hospitals need a referral (진료의뢰서) from a clinic for the NHIS rate; without one you pay much more.
• Bring your mobile ID or card each time — clinics must verify identity before applying NHIS.

Common mistakes

• Ignoring Korean-language paper bills until arrears pile up.
• Thinking employer coverage is automatic. Confirm in the app that you show as a workplace subscriber (직장가입자) from your hire date.
• Applying for exclusion months late. You still owe the earlier months.
• Not merging household: paying separate premiums for spouse and kids when you could combine.
• Leaving Korea with an unpaid bill, which affects a future visa.

*Figures as of Oct 2026 per NHIS (nhis.or.kr) and university notices citing NHIS. Premium rates change each year (student rates are typically updated in March), so confirm in the NHIS app or at 1577-1000. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.*