![[Korea] Stricter health insurance criteria for foreigners and Koreans overseas](http://gpa.net/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-Stressed-Asian-Businesswoman-H-240331738_1200x.jpg?v=1706188860)
Under an amendment to Korea’s Health Insurance Act coming into effect on April 3, foreign nationals and overseas South Koreans must reside in the country for a minimum of six months to receive health insurance coverage as dependents of the actual subscribers, The Korea Herald reports.
The coming amendment will, however, allow children under 19 or spouses of foreign workers to be covered by national health insurance before residing in Korea for six months.
This will reportedly allow the families of diplomats and expatriate employees to settle in the country and have their basic needs met.
According to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), overseas South Korean nationals are individuals living abroad who hold South Korean nationality.
Foreign spouses coming to Korea after marrying a South Korean national, people holding a D-2 student visa, a D-4-3 visa issued for special training program purposes, a nonprofessional employment E-9 visa, an F-5 permanent residency visa or an F-6 marriage migrant visa are also not included and can receive health insurance benefits immediately.
Parents of South Korean passport holders’ foreign spouses - who could previously be listed as dependents - must stay over six months to benefit from the scheme, the NHIS said.
Health care insurance criteria have become stricter over recent years to prevent foreign residents from entering Korea for a short period and joining the programme with nominal insurance fees to receive high-cost treatments.
The revision to the health insurance measure was passed during a plenary session of the National Assembly on December 8, 2023, in the wake of growing criticism that some foreign residents were taking advantage of the state medical insurance scheme through loopholes in the health care system.
Speaking to The Korea Herald, an official at the NHIS said, “(We) expect that stricter standards will help screen foreigners benefiting from the service.”
Source: The Korea Herald
(Quote via original reporting)
Under an amendment to Korea’s Health Insurance Act coming into effect on April 3, foreign nationals and overseas South Koreans must reside in the country for a minimum of six months to receive health insurance coverage as dependents of the actual subscribers, The Korea Herald reports.
The coming amendment will, however, allow children under 19 or spouses of foreign workers to be covered by national health insurance before residing in Korea for six months.
This will reportedly allow the families of diplomats and expatriate employees to settle in the country and have their basic needs met.
According to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), overseas South Korean nationals are individuals living abroad who hold South Korean nationality.
Foreign spouses coming to Korea after marrying a South Korean national, people holding a D-2 student visa, a D-4-3 visa issued for special training program purposes, a nonprofessional employment E-9 visa, an F-5 permanent residency visa or an F-6 marriage migrant visa are also not included and can receive health insurance benefits immediately.
Parents of South Korean passport holders’ foreign spouses - who could previously be listed as dependents - must stay over six months to benefit from the scheme, the NHIS said.
Health care insurance criteria have become stricter over recent years to prevent foreign residents from entering Korea for a short period and joining the programme with nominal insurance fees to receive high-cost treatments.
The revision to the health insurance measure was passed during a plenary session of the National Assembly on December 8, 2023, in the wake of growing criticism that some foreign residents were taking advantage of the state medical insurance scheme through loopholes in the health care system.
Speaking to The Korea Herald, an official at the NHIS said, “(We) expect that stricter standards will help screen foreigners benefiting from the service.”
Source: The Korea Herald
(Quote via original reporting)