While the National Health Insurance program is an essential safeguard for foreign nationals’ long-term stay in South Korea, those not covered can seek other government subsidies.
This includes the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s project, implemented since 2005 to subsidize the especially costly essential medical expenses of those who are uninsured, including immigrant workers, refugees and their children.
Under the ministry's supervision, regional governments at the city and provincial levels draw budget plans and seek cooperation from related agencies. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service confirms the validity of the applicant's request, while the state-run Public Healthcare Policy Headquarters provides technological support for the applicants.
Up to 6 million won ($4,133) in medical costs can be subsidized annually for medical procedures that cost up to 3 million won. If the medical expenses exceed the 3-million-won cap, an additional deliberation is required, and the medical institute must submit an explanation to the city or provincial authorities.
Medical procedures not covered by the NHI are excluded from the subsidy under this program.
For more information on the process in Korean, visit the HIRA website (Korean). Contact the government officials in your region and request an English-speaking consultant to find out more.
Korea also has a system called support for catastrophic medical expenses, which provides subsidies for low-income households facing financial difficulties.
Though generally only available to those subscribed to the NHI, the Act on the Support for Catastrophic Medical Expenses stipulates a few exceptions for those married to a Korean national.
Specifically, this includes a person who or whose spouse is pregnant; is raising a minor child of Korean nationality; or shares livelihood or residence with the spouse’s lineal ascendant who is a national.
Those separated or divorced from a Korean spouse can also be eligible if they are raising a child of a Korean national or if they are pregnant with the child of the said former spouse.
A person recognized as a refugee under the Refugee Act is also eligible.
The criteria are stipulated in the related article of the aforementioned act for catastrophic medical expenses, under "persons eligible for support."
