Healthcare in South Korea
Healthcare in South Korea is modern and efficient. There are both western and eastern options available and both are covered under the government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan.
Dentists, dermatologists and other specialists are all affordable and readily available, as are general healthcare products and pharmaceutical drugs. Most hospitals and doctors have some English speaking staff, but it is sometimes advisable to ask a Korean-speaking friend or colleague to accompany you, particularly in smaller towns and cities.
South Korea's National Health Insurance Program is a compulsory social insurance system which covers the whole population. By law any company which employs more than five foreign workers must enrol their foreign workers in a health insurance program; the company is expected to pay 50 percent of the health insurance premiums each month. It is important to note that this does not apply if expats are employed as independent contractors.
Once you have been enrolled in the NHI Program you are able to extend your coverage to your immediate family members. Apart from the NHI there are a number of private health insurance options; however, most of these are more expensive and not as widely recognised as the NHI.
It is important for expats to note that they are not covered by either the National Health Insurance plan or private health insurance until they have received their Alien Registration Card from the immigration offices. This can take anywhere from three weeks to three months.
Dentists, dermatologists and other specialists are all affordable and readily available, as are general healthcare products and pharmaceutical drugs. Most hospitals and doctors have some English speaking staff, but it is sometimes advisable to ask a Korean-speaking friend or colleague to accompany you, particularly in smaller towns and cities.
South Korea's National Health Insurance Program is a compulsory social insurance system which covers the whole population. By law any company which employs more than five foreign workers must enrol their foreign workers in a health insurance program; the company is expected to pay 50 percent of the health insurance premiums each month. It is important to note that this does not apply if expats are employed as independent contractors. Once you have been enrolled in the NHI Program you are able to extend your coverage to your immediate family members. Apart from the NHI there are a number of private health insurance options; however, most of these are more expensive and not as widely recognised as the NHI.
It is important for expats to note that they are not covered by either the National Health Insurance plan or private health insurance until they have received their Alien Registration Card from the immigration offices. This can take anywhere from three weeks to three months.
