Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rooms are available with Western meal services and entertainment. Of course all these ex-
tras come at a price, typically well above what you'd pay for identical treatment at a stand-
ard hospital, and people planning on visiting international clinics regularly would be ad-
vised to purchase additional coverage to supplement their government insurance.
Health insurance is provided by South Korea's National Health Insurance Corporation
(NHIC). It is mandatory for all foreign nationals working in the country and is also extended
to any of their dependents. Foreigners who are not working but are resident here, such as
students, can also opt for coverage for a monthly fee, typically around 50,000 won.
Foreign workers' premiums are calculated as a percentage of their monthly salary, with
the current rate at around 6 percent. The employee pays half this amount, and the em-
ployer is responsible for the remainder. Contributions are typically deducted from monthly
paychecks. Foreign employees should be enrolled in the system automatically when they
start working and will receive an insurance card (currently more like a small booklet) from
the NHIC. Foreign employees who doesn't receive the card or suspects insurance payments
are not being made should raise the issue with their employer or the NHIC immediately, as
technically they, or more likely their employer, are violating the law.
The NHIC is a “co-payment” program that covers the lion's share of most medical ex-
penses but provides no assistance for optional or cosmetic treatment, such as plastic surgery,
or in cases when the medical condition is a result of deliberate or criminal activity. How
much of a medical bill is covered depends on where and how the patient has sought treat-
ment. Generally for outpatient services, national insurance will cover 40-70 percent of the
total costs, and for inpatient services—that is, after the patient has been admitted to a hos-
pital or clinic—80 percent. The NHIC program also covers around 70 percent of the charges
at dental or Asian medicine clinics and a similar portion of the costs of medications at phar-
macies, when medication has been prescribed. These amounts—as with monthly contribu-
tions—are reevaluated by the NHIC each year. In most cases coverage is applied automat-
ically, and the patients billed only for their portion of the co-payment.
Whether it's necessary to supplement government insurance with private coverage de-
pends on the individual. For those who travel frequently, the answer is yes, as the NHIC
program does not cover any medical costs incurred outside of South Korea. Likewise, those
likely to be visiting international clinics or specialized hospitals regularly may want to pur-
