NHI-covered service (geupyeo)? Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo)? How to read your receipt
If you can't understand even one line of the receipt you got at the hospital, save this article!
NHI-covered service (geupyeo) = insurance applies (you pay 30~60%), Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) = you pay the full amount yourself. Please ask for the Detailed calculation statement for free.
Why is it so expensive even though I have insurance?
You’re definitely enrolled in health insurance, but your hospital bill came out higher than you expected.
There is a reason. Hospital bills have two types mixed together.
NHI-covered service (geupyeo) (covered) = Health insurance pays part of it. You only need to pay 30~60%.
Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) (non-covered) = Health insurance does not pay for it. You pay the full amount yourself.
Even at the same hospital, on the same day, there can be a mix of NHI-covered service (geupyeo) and Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo)!
It is much more detailed than a regular receipt. It shows whether each item is NHI-covered service (geupyeo) or Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo). It is issued for free!
The rate I pay (out-of-pocket rate)
This is the percentage you pay for NHI-covered service (geupyeo). It changes depending on where you get treatment.
| Medical institution | copayment rate | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 🏥 Local Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) (clinic) | 30% | Simple treatment like colds, skin, or ear, nose, and throat care |
| 🏥 Hospital (hospital) | 40% | 30–100 beds. Orthopedics, Korean traditional medicine (hanbang) hospitals, etc. |
| 🏥 General hospital | 50% | 100 or more beds, several departments. Example: Boramae Medical Center |
| 🏥 Tertiary general hospital (3rd tier) (tertiary hospital) | 60% | Large hospitals such as Seoul National University Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Asan |
| 🛏️ Hospitalization (anywhere) | 20% | The same regardless of hospital size |
But if you go directly to a big hospital? It’s 60%! So the Referral letter (clinic→hospital) is important.
Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) is this expensive.
These are things that insurance does not cover. You have to pay the full amount yourself!
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 🦷 Implant | 800K~1.8M KRW/item |
| 🦷 Orthodontics | 2M~8M KRW |
| 👁️ LASIK | 1M~2M KRW |
| 🛏️ Single room hospitalization | additional 100,000~300,000 KRW/day |
| 💆 Manual therapy (non-covered) | About 100,000 KRW per session |
Shocking fact: Even the same Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) can have prices that differ by up to 25 times depending on the hospital!
💡 There is Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) that can also cover Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo)! You may be able to sign up depending on your visa type. Learn about Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) → EP 14 Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance): Can foreigners sign up too?
How to read a receipt
When you look at the hospital receipt, it looks like this.
"NHI-covered service (geupyeo)" field: item partly paid by health insurance
→ "Out-of-pocket cost" = money I paid
→ "NHIS payment" = money NHIS paid
"Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo)" section: pay the full amount with your own money, without insurance coverage
💡 Tip: Ask for the "Detailed calculation statement" for your medical bill. It is free! It shows the NHI-covered service (geupyeo) / Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) for each item in detail.
How to save on Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo)
Compare prices on HIRA
1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center On Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA), you can compare Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) prices by hospital. The non-covered service comparison menu is available only in Korean. If Korean is difficult, please call the HIRA customer center 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center.
General room instead of a premium hospital room
A 6-person room is a NHI-covered service (geupyeo), and a 1-person room is a Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo).
If you have Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance)?
It covers up to 70% of Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo). Whether you can sign up depends on your visa type. See the sign-up conditions for Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) → EP 14 Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance): Can foreigners sign up too?
Go to a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) near your home first before going to a big hospital.
If you go to a Tertiary general hospital (3rd tier) without a Referral letter (clinic→hospital), your out-of-pocket cost goes up a lot!
⚠️ But the emergency room is an exception. If it is a real emergency (KTAS grades 1~3), insurance is applied normally even without a Referral letter (clinic→hospital) (out-of-pocket ~20%). If you go to the emergency room with a mild case (KTAS grades 4~5), you have to pay about 90% yourself.
guideLayout.timelineDesc
Medical treatment → Receive receipt
On the hospital receipt, the sections for 'NHI-covered service (geupyeo)' and 'Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo)' are separated.
Check NHI-covered service (geupyeo) (insurance applied)
Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) 30%, hospital 40%, general hospital 50%, tertiary general hospital 60%. For hospitalization, 20% anywhere.
Check Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) (full self-payment)
Implants, orthodontics, LASIK, private room, Manual therapy (non-covered), etc. Prices can differ by up to 25 times depending on the hospital.
Request detailed statement
Please ask for the Detailed calculation statement. It is free! It shows the NHI-covered service (geupyeo) / Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) for each item.
guideLayout.keyBenefitsDesc
Copayment rate system
Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) 30% → Hospital 40% → General hospital 50% → Tertiary hospital 60%. Your local clinic is the cheapest.
Detailed statement free
The detailed calculation statement for medical fees is issued free of charge. It shows the NHI-covered service (geupyeo) / Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) for each item.
HIRA price comparison
You can compare Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) prices by hospital on Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA). (Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA)에서)
guideLayout.warningsDesc
Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) is excluded from the cap system.
Out-of-Pocket Cap (EP.1) applies only to NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items. If there are many Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items, you may not be eligible for a refund.
If you go directly to a big hospital, it is expensive.
If you go to a Tertiary general hospital (3rd tier) without a Referral letter (clinic→hospital), your out-of-pocket cost goes up a lot!
Price difference for Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) can be up to 25 times
Even for the same Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo), the price can be very different at each hospital. Compare on HIRA.
guideLayout.checklistDesc
guideLayout.contactsDesc
guideLayout.relatedArticlesDesc
guideLayout.faqTitle
NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items are the same nationwide. Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) is set freely by each hospital. It can differ by up to 25 times!
It’s possible at most hospitals. Please ask at the administration desk. If there is an International Medical Center, it’s even easier.
Compare prices by hospital on the HIRA website. If you have Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) (EP.14), you can get back up to 70%!
I'll tell you how to live in Korea.
Please show lots of love for gltr life.
This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.