You may be able to get your hospital expenses back this year.
If the hospital costs you paid in 1 year go over a set amount, you get back the extra amount. Foreigners too!
If your yearly hospital costs go over the Out-of-Pocket Cap limit, you get an automatic refund. You just need to register your bank account in the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app.
What is this? I’ll explain it simply.
In Korea, there is a system called the "Out-of-Pocket Cap".
If the hospital costs you paid in 1 year go over the "maximum limit," you can get the extra money back. Anyone with health insurance can get it. Foreigners too!
For hospitalization costs, the hospital only charges up to the limit right away (Advance application of the cap during hospitalization). For outpatient treatment costs, you get the money back later. You just need to register your bank account!
For example, if a person with a limit of 810K KRW paid 1,500,000 KRW in one year? → They get back 690,000 KRW.
Which bracket am I in?
The maximum amount is different depending on your income. You can check your bracket by your monthly insurance premium.
The maximum amount changes depending on your income. You can check your bracket by your monthly insurance premium.
| Range | Monthly insurance premium | Annual maximum amount |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | Insurance premium up to 28,000 KRW | 810K KRW per year |
| Section 2 | 28,000~53,000 KRW | 1.01M KRW per year |
| Section 3 | 53,000~79,000 KRW | 1,520,000 KRW per year |
| Section 4 | 79,000~108,000 KRW | 2,030,000 KRW per year |
Most foreign workers are in sections 1–4.
How do I get it back?
You do not need to apply separately! NHIS calculates it and automatically lets you know in August to September of the following year.
The refund claim period is 3 years. For the 2023 portion, it is possible until 2026. If you might have been eligible in the past, please check with NHIS!
Install the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app.
Register your "refund payment account" in the app.
If you get an information message, please check it.
If the text message doesn’t come?
☎️ Call National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) to check.
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Total hospital expenses accumulated over 1 year
NHIS automatically calculates whether your copayment for NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items goes over the limit amount for your income bracket.
NHIS will tell you
If you are eligible for a refund in August to September of the following year, you will get a text message.
Register a refund account
In the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app, register your 'refund account'. That's all.
Refund deposit
After you register your bank account, the money is deposited within 1–3 days. You can receive it within 3 years.
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Automatic refund
Even if you do not apply separately, NHIS will calculate it and let you know. You just need to register your bank account, and that is all.
Foreigners are also eligible
If you are enrolled in employee health insurance, you can receive it regardless of your nationality.
Family total
The hospital bills of family members registered as Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) are also calculated together.
Hospitalization costs apply immediately
For hospitalization costs, the hospital only charges up to the maximum amount right away (Advance application of the cap during hospitalization).
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Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) is excluded.
Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items like implants, premium hospital rooms, and LASIK are not included. Only NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items apply.
3-year statute of limitations
The refund claim period is 3 years. The 2023 amount can be claimed until 2026. Please check past amounts too.
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Yes! If you are enrolled in employee health insurance, you can receive it regardless of nationality.
It is the amount over the limit. For example, if you are in section 3 (limit: 1,520,000 KRW) and spent 2,000,000 KRW, you get back 480,000 KRW.
You can receive it within 3 years. After 3 years, it disappears! Please make sure to register your bank account in the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app).
Yes! The hospital costs of family members registered as Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) are also calculated together.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.