Quick answers: healthcare in South Korea
- How much does health insurance cost in South Korea for expats?
- Indicative international health insurance for a 32-year-old living in South Korea (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA) typically costs £247 to £453 a month, with a median of £307 and the cheapest at £181, based on 12 plan quotes from the 14 insurers on our panel, taken in 2026-09. Your price depends on your age, medical history, plan and deductible, and is only confirmed by the insurer.
- How much does expat health insurance cost by age in South Korea?
- Indicative median monthly premiums in South Korea (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA): age 25 US$309, age 35 US$347, age 45 US$494, age 55 US$820, age 65 US$1,415. Quotes taken 2026-09; the insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
- Do foreigners need health insurance in South Korea?
- It depends on the visa. Foreign residents staying six months or more (regional members) (in force (since 16 July 2019)): Enrolment in the National Health Insurance is compulsory once a foreigner has stayed in Korea for six months, with membership starting the day after the six-month point. Students (D-2 and D-4 visas) (in force (student enrolment from March 2021)): Students meeting the qualifying criteria are enrolled in the NHIS from their date of entry rather than after six months. Marriage migrants (F-6), permanent residents (F-5) and E-9 workers: These groups acquire NHIS regional membership from their date of entry, without the six-month wait. Employees on work visas: Foreign employees are covered through workplace (employee) insurance. Countries that require travel insurance to enter
- Can foreigners use public healthcare in South Korea?
- Foreigners who have stayed in Korea for six months are enrolled in the NHIS as regional (self-employed) members, and some groups, including qualifying students, marriage migrants, permanent residents and E-9 workers, are enrolled from their date of entry. Employees are enrolled through their workplace, where the 2026 contribution rate is 7.19% of pay. Enrolled foreigners pay the same co-payment rates as Korean members, and the NHIS runs an English help line on 033-811-2000.
- Do hospitals in South Korea ask foreigners to pay upfront?
- Patients normally pay at the hospital cashier after each outpatient visit and at discharge for inpatient stays. Severance Hospital's International Health Care Center says hospitalisation costs can be billed directly to insurance companies for insured patients, while many outpatient visitors use a pay and claim approach, and it can provide a cost estimate before treatment on request. Patients without NHIS cover are charged the hospital's full rates.
- What is the emergency number in South Korea?
- Call 119 for an ambulance in South Korea.
What health insurance costs in South Korea (indicative)
These are indicative prices, based on 12 plan quotes from the 14 international insurers on our panel, for one standard profile: a 32-year-old living in South Korea, inpatient and outpatient cover, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA. The typical monthly price is £247 to £453, with a median of £307 and the cheapest at £181. Your actual price depends on your age, medical history, the plan, your deductible and where you want cover, and is only confirmed by the insurer. Snapshot 2026-09-24. See the Health Insurance Cost Index.
Indicative prices: the 5 lowest of 12 plan quotes, monthly in GBP, cheapest mid-level plan in each insurer's range. Quotes taken 2026-09-24.
See the figures
| Age | Cheapest | Median | Higher end | Plans quoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | US$151 | US$309 | US$424 | 13 |
| 35 | US$201 | US$347 | US$573 | 13 |
| 45 | US$257 | US$494 | US$692 | 13 |
| 55 | US$403 | US$820 | US$973 | 13 |
| 65 | US$633 | US$1,415 | US$1,473 | 12 |
Indicative. Single adult, inpatient and outpatient, cheapest mid-level plan per insurer, worldwide excluding the USA. Quotes taken 2026-09-29. The insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
How healthcare works for expats
South Korea has a single compulsory National Health Insurance (NHIS) scheme that covers residents, including most long-stay foreigners. Insured patients pay a share of each bill: 30% at clinics, 40% at hospitals, 50% at general hospitals in urban areas and 60% at tertiary hospitals for outpatient care, and 20% for inpatient treatment. Many services are 'non-covered' (bigeubyeo), such as single rooms, MRI and ultrasound scans outside the insurance criteria, robotic surgery and dental implants, and these are paid in full even by NHIS members. Medical and dental care is usually of a good standard but can be expensive, and staff may not speak English.
Public care and state schemes
Foreigners who have stayed in Korea for six months are enrolled in the NHIS as regional (self-employed) members, and some groups, including qualifying students, marriage migrants, permanent residents and E-9 workers, are enrolled from their date of entry. Employees are enrolled through their workplace, where the 2026 contribution rate is 7.19% of pay. Enrolled foreigners pay the same co-payment rates as Korean members, and the NHIS runs an English help line on 033-811-2000.
Private hospitals
Large university and tertiary hospitals in Seoul, such as Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, have international patient centres. Hospitals are required by the Medical Service Act (Article 45) to publish their non-covered prices, so single-room charges, non-covered scans and packages can be checked on each hospital's website before treatment. A single room at a major Seoul hospital typically adds KRW 440,000 to 540,000 a day in non-covered room charges, and premium suites cost considerably more.
Paying up front
Patients normally pay at the hospital cashier after each outpatient visit and at discharge for inpatient stays. Severance Hospital's International Health Care Center says hospitalisation costs can be billed directly to insurance companies for insured patients, while many outpatient visitors use a pay and claim approach, and it can provide a cost estimate before treatment on request. Patients without NHIS cover are charged the hospital's full rates.
Typical medical costs in South Korea
Published prices, mostly from private hospitals. Pound figures are approximate conversions.
| Treatment | Price | About |
|---|---|---|
| Single room, non-covered room charge per day, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per night | ₩500,000 to ₩540,000 | £278 to £301 |
| Single room, patient charge per day (1 to 15 day stay, meals excluded), Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (standard 1-bed room to standard private suite)10 Seongnam, per night | ₩495,000 to ₩911,000 | £276 to £507 |
| Single room, non-covered room charge per day, Konkuk University Medical Center11 Seoul, per night | ₩440,000 to ₩770,000 | £245 to £429 |
| CT scan, non-covered rate, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per scan | ₩136,000 to ₩522,000 | £76 to £291 |
| MRI, spinal canal (general), non-covered rate, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per scan | ₩553,000 to ₩574,000 | £308 to £320 |
| MRI, knee (general), non-covered rate when outside insurance criteria, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per scan | ₩626,000 to ₩1,001,000 | £349 to £557 |
| Breast and axillary ultrasound, non-covered rate when outside insurance criteria, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per scan | ₩282,000 to ₩287,000 | £157 to £160 |
| Dental implant (prosthetic), Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per implant | ₩3,000,000 to ₩4,100,000 | £1,671 to £2,283 |
| Robot-assisted cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), non-covered robotic surgery fee, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per procedure | ₩5,000,000 to ₩9,500,000 | £2,784 to £5,290 |
| Robot-assisted prostatectomy, non-covered robotic surgery fee, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per procedure | ₩12,000,000 to ₩14,000,000 | £6,682 to £7,796 |
| Robot-assisted thyroid surgery, non-covered robotic surgery fee, Asan Medical Center9 Seoul, per procedure | ₩15,000,000 to ₩24,000,000 | £8,353 to £13,365 |
Health insurance rules for foreigners
Foreign residents staying six months or more (regional members)
Enrolment in the National Health Insurance is compulsory once a foreigner has stayed in Korea for six months, with membership starting the day after the six-month point. Monthly premiums for foreign regional members cannot be lower than the average premium of all members as at the end of the previous November.1,4,5
Students (D-2 and D-4 visas)
Students meeting the qualifying criteria are enrolled in the NHIS from their date of entry rather than after six months. D-2 students at recognised schools and universities receive a 50% reduction on their premiums.1,4,5
Marriage migrants (F-6), permanent residents (F-5) and E-9 workers
These groups acquire NHIS regional membership from their date of entry, without the six-month wait. F-5 and F-6 households are assessed under the rules for Korean residents rather than the foreigner minimum premium.4,5
Employees on work visas
Foreign employees are covered through workplace (employee) insurance. An employee can be excluded if they prove they receive equivalent medical benefits under foreign law, foreign insurance or employer-provided cover.1
Workation (digital nomad) visa, F-1-D
Applicants must hold private health insurance with more than KRW 100 million of cover for hospital treatment and repatriation to their home country for the whole stay, and an annual income of at least twice Korea's previous-year GNI per capita. The visa allows a one-year stay, extendable by one further year.6
Short-term visitors
British nationals can enter visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or short-term business, and are exempt from the K-ETA until 31 December 2026. There is no health insurance requirement for entry; the FCDO advises having travel health insurance and funds to cover treatment and repatriation.7,8
Tips before you buy cover
- Every Korean hospital must publish its non-covered (bigeubyeo) price list, so check the hospital's website for single-room, MRI and ultrasound prices before agreeing to them.
- Even with NHIS membership, single rooms, many scans outside the insurance criteria, robotic surgery and dental implants are non-covered and charged in full.
- If you stay six months you will be enrolled in the NHIS automatically, so budget for monthly premiums, which for foreign regional members start at the previous year's national average premium.
- Outpatient co-payments rise with the size of the hospital (30% at a clinic up to 60% at a tertiary hospital), so a local clinic is usually the cheapest first stop for routine problems.
- Large Seoul hospitals such as Severance have international health care centres that can give a written cost estimate before treatment.
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Sources
- 1.Guidance for foreigners, National Health Insurance Service (accessed September 2026)
- 2.Insurance benefits, National Health Insurance Service (accessed September 2026)
- 3.Contribution rate, National Health Insurance Service (accessed September 2026)
- 4.재외국민 및 외국인 지역보험료 부과기준 (Premium rules for overseas Koreans and foreign regional members), National Health Insurance Service (accessed September 2026)
- 5.장기체류 재외국민 및 외국인에 대한 건강보험 적용기준, 보건복지부고시 제2025-69호, 제4조, Ministry of Health and Welfare (via NHIS law library) (April 2025)
- 6.(F-1-D) Workation (Digital Nomad) Pilot Program, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles (January 2025)
- 7.South Korea travel advice: Health, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (May 2026)
- 8.South Korea travel advice: Entry requirements, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (accessed September 2026)
- 9.비급여진료비 (Non-covered medical fees), Asan Medical Center (January 2026)
- 10.입원료(병실료) (Inpatient room charges), Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (April 2026)
- 11.비급여진료비 안내 (Non-covered medical fees), Konkuk University Medical Center (January 2026)
- 12.Appointment guide, International Health Care Center, Severance Hospital (accessed September 2026)
- 13.Euro foreign exchange reference rates (25 September 2026), European Central Bank (September 2026)
Costs and rules change. Always check with the hospital, the insurer or the relevant authority before relying on a figure.