From pregnancy to childbirth: an insurance guide for foreign moms
If you give birth in Korea, how much insurance coverage do you get? Everything foreign moms really need to know.
2025-26 childbirth: full waiver of out-of-pocket cost for NHI-covered service (geupyeo). 국민행복카드 1,000,000 KRW. Infertility treatment IVF: insurance applies for up to 20 times.
Prenatal checkups: covered by NHIS
When your pregnancy is confirmed, you start getting prenatal checkups. That is good news. Most prenatal checkups are NHI-covered service (geupyeo).
Tests covered as NHI-covered service (geupyeo):
The copayment rate is 30% at a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier), 40% at a hospital, and 50% at a general hospital. If you get a checkup at a local obstetrics and gynecology clinic (Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier)), it is the cheapest.
However, some detailed tests may be Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo). Before the test, be sure to ask, "Is this NHI-covered service (geupyeo)?" That one question can save you tens of thousands of KRW.
If you get regular checkups at a local obstetrics and gynecology clinic (Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier)), your out-of-pocket cost is the lowest at 30%. If it is not high-risk, you do not need to go to a university hospital.
국민행복카드: 1,000,000 KRW support
When you get pregnant, there is something you should definitely apply for. It is the 국민행복카드 (National Happiness Card).
Support amount:
With this amount, you can pay for obstetrics and gynecology treatment fees, pharmacy costs, and childbirth costs. Any foreigner enrolled in health insurance can apply.
If your pregnancy is confirmed, apply for the 국민행복카드 right away. The earlier you apply, the more medical expenses you can save.
Get a pregnancy confirmation letter from the obstetrics and gynecology clinic.
Visit an NHIS branch or register as a pregnant woman in the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app
Get the 국민행복카드 issued at a bank or card company
When you get the card, at the OB-GYN payment desk just say, "I’ll pay with the 국민행복카드." Then the amount will be deducted automatically.
You can use it until 2 years after the expected delivery date. You do not need to rush, but the earlier you apply, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits.
Childbirth costs: Full out-of-pocket cost waived in 2025-2026!
This is a really big change.
Starting from 2025-2026, when you give birth, the out-of-pocket cost is fully exempt. It means the money you have to pay for NHI-covered service (geupyeo) is 0.
Previously:
Right now, it is 0 KRW only for NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items.
However, Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items are still paid by yourself:
Simply put: whether it is a vaginal birth or a C-section, for NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items, the amount you have to pay is 0 won. But non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items like a private room are an exception — you still have to pay for these yourself.
Still, the real burden of childbirth has become much smaller. This is really good news for foreign moms giving birth in Korea.
Book your postpartum care center early in pregnancy. Popular places get fully booked several months in advance.
High-risk pregnancy: There is extra support available
If you are classified as a high-risk pregnant woman, you can get extra support.
Medical expense support for high-risk pregnant women:
If you are a foreigner enrolled in health insurance, you can apply. You can apply at a Public health center (bogeonso) (community health center) or online through 정부24 (gov.kr public service portal) (정부24 (gov.kr public service portal) (gov.kr public service portal) public service portal).
If the doctor in charge says it is “high risk,” please remember that this support program is available. If the hospital stay gets longer, the cost goes up a lot, so this support can help a lot.
Infertility treatment: insurance covers this much
If you're worried about infertility, please make sure to know this. Korea has quite a lot of insurance support for infertility treatment.
In vitro fertilization (IVF):
Artificial insemination (IUI):
In the time when it was a Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo), one IVF treatment cost 3,000,000~5,000,000 KRW. After insurance coverage applies, the amount you pay yourself goes down to about 1,000,000~1,500,000 KRW.
If you are a foreigner enrolled in health insurance, you can get this benefit no matter your visa type. It is okay even if you are not Marriage (Marriage).
Differences by visa: who benefits the most?
Benefits related to childbirth vary a little depending on your visa.
Marriage (Marriage) — Top priority
Work visa (Skilled Worker, Non-professional Worker, Working Visit) — applies the same
Student visa (Student) — possible, but confirmation needed
For any visa, joining health insurance is essential. If you give birth without insurance, a vaginal delivery costs 2,000,000~4,000,000 KRW and a cesarean section costs 4,000,000~7,000,000 KRW, all paid fully by yourself.
Postpartum care: this is a Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo).
Korea’s unique culture, postpartum care center. It is a place where you recover while receiving professional care for 2~4 weeks after childbirth.
Postpartum care centers are Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo).
You do not have to go to a postpartum care center. It is fully possible to recover at home too. But for foreign moms in Korea who find it hard to get help from family, it can be a convenient choice.
English-speaking OB-GYN / maternity hospitals:
At the International Medical Center of large hospitals in Seoul, such as Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital, and Seoul National University Hospital, you can get prenatal care and childbirth services in English. But these are Tertiary general hospital (3rd tier), so the outpatient copayment rate is 60%, and you need a Referral letter (clinic→hospital).
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Pregnancy confirmed → apply for the 국민행복카드
Get a pregnancy confirmation from the obstetrics and gynecology clinic → register with NHIS → get the card issued at the bank. Support: 1,000,000 KRW.
Prenatal checkups (mostly NHI-covered service (geupyeo))
Ultrasound, blood tests, fetal anomaly screening, etc. If you get them at a nearby obstetrics and gynecology Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier), your copay is 30%, so it is the cheapest.
Childbirth (copayment exempt)
Both natural birth and C-section are NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items, so 0 KRW! You only pay yourself for Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items, like a private room.
Register your baby's insurance after childbirth
If you are a Workplace subscriber, register your baby as a Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja). Insurance coverage applies with no extra premium.
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국민행복카드 1,000,000 KRW
Single pregnancy: 1M KRW, multiple pregnancy: 1.4M KRW. Can be used for obstetrics and gynecology medical fees + pharmacy costs + childbirth expenses.
0 KRW out-of-pocket cost for childbirth
Starting from 2025-26, full out-of-pocket cost for NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items is waived. Both natural childbirth and cesarean section are included.
Insurance coverage for infertility treatment
Insurance coverage applies for up to 20 IVF treatments and up to 5 IUI treatments. Foreigners get the same if they are NHIS members.
Up to 3M KRW for high-risk pregnant women
If you are diagnosed as high risk, you can get support for hospitalization treatment costs up to 3,000,000 KRW, including Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo).
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Postpartum care centers are Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo).
2M~4M KRW (for 2 weeks). Insurance is not covered. Please book early.
Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items still need to be paid by yourself
Premium hospital room (single room), some painless labor services, and special tests are still paid by you.
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Yes. Your spouse’s nationality does not matter. Anyone who is an NHIS member can apply.
Yes. For both natural birth and cesarean section, there is no out-of-pocket payment for NHI-covered service (geupyeo) items. Only Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items, like upgraded hospital rooms, are exceptions.
If you are enrolled in NHIS, the conditions are the same as for Korean people. There are no separate visa requirements. An infertility diagnosis certificate is needed.
If you are a Workplace subscriber, register your baby as a Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja). Insurance coverage starts right away with no extra premium.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.