Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance): Can foreigners also sign up?
78% of Koreans have Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance). If it is 10,000~20,000 KRW per month, your worry about hospital bills gets smaller.
Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) gives back 80% of your out-of-pocket cost under NHIS and 70% of Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo). 10,000~30,000 KRW per month. F visa: no restriction. E/D/H visas: only for people enrolled in workplace insurance.
This insurance helps reduce worries about hospital bills.
Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) (medical expense insurance) is insurance that gives back the money you paid at the hospital.
Health insurance (NHIS) pays 70~80%, right? The remaining 20~30% is the out-of-pocket cost, and Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) gives back most of that.
You can also get back up to 70% for Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items that NHIS does not cover at all, such as some MRI scans, Manual therapy (non-covered), and non-covered injections.
Simply put:
If you hide your past medical history, you may not receive insurance money later. Your contract may also be canceled. Please honestly tell them about your overseas medical records too.
Foreigners can also enroll. There are conditions.
There is no legal rule that bans foreigners from joining Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance). But from 2024년 10월, the insurance industry made the rules stricter.
Eligible visas:
🟢 Family Visit, Residence, Dependent Family, Overseas Korean, Permanent Residence, Marriage — can enroll without restrictions
🟡 Skilled Worker, Non-professional Worker, Student, Language Training, Working Visit — only workplace health insurance subscribers can enroll
🔴 Job Seeking, Arts / Entertainment, E-8, Professor0, Working Holiday — cannot enroll
🔴 C visa (short-term) — cannot enroll
Why can’t these visas sign up?
Insurance companies review based on how stable your stay is.
- Short stay (C-3, C-4): because the stay period is short, 90 days or less
- Unstable stay (Job Seeking Job Seeking, Working Holiday Working Holiday): because it is unclear when you will leave the country
- Special jobs (Arts / Entertainment Arts / Entertainment, E-8 seasonal work, Professor0 seafarer): because the accident risk is high or the stay is irregular
Each insurance company may have different standards, so if you were rejected, please ask another insurance company.
And the most important condition:
You need to be enrolled in health insurance (NHIS) first. If you do not have an NHIS enrollment certificate, you cannot apply for Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) at all.
Without an NHIS enrollment certificate, you cannot apply for Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) at all. Within 6 months after entering the country, it is hard to enroll in NHIS and also hard to get Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance). During this period, use short-term travel insurance for coverage.
These are the documents you need to prepare.
From October 2024, the required documents have increased.
Required documents:
1. Korean National Health Insurance enrollment certificate — issued from the NHIS app or the corporation
2. Copy of Alien Registration Card (ARC)
3. Copy of passport
4. Document to confirm your status of residence code
Where can you get the document to confirm your status of residence code?
→ Visit the Immigration Office to get it issued (bring your Alien Registration Card (ARC))
→ You can also get it online at 정부24 (gov.kr public service portal) (정부24 (gov.kr public service portal) (gov.kr public service portal) public service portal) (공동인증서 required)
→ You can also apply on Hi Korea (hikorea.go.kr)
Things that may be needed additionally:
If you move, report your address change to NHIS. If you do not, your NHIS eligibility may be cut off, and your Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) claim may also be denied.
Where do I sign up? Foreigner-friendly insurers
You can sign up with most major insurance companies, such as Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, DB Insurance, KB Insurance, and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance.
A place especially recommended for foreigners:
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance operates a team dedicated to foreigners. English consultation is available, and they also help with insurance claims.
📞 Medical interpretation for foreigners: Medical interpretation for foreigners
If Korean is difficult, it's easier to sign up through an insurance agent. Recently, the number of foreign agents is also increasing.
The insurance premium is the same as for Koreans. There is no 'foreigner surcharge'.
The 5th generation Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) is planned to launch in the first half of 2026. Coverage for Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) will change a lot (non-severe limit 10,000,000 KRW, copay 50%). Conditions can be different depending on when you sign up, so please talk with your insurance agent.
What can I get refunded?
This is based on the current 4th-generation Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance).
Out-of-pocket cost for NHI-covered service (geupyeo) (NHIS covered item):
→ You get back 80% of your out-of-pocket cost
→ Annual limit 50M KRW
→ Outpatient per-visit limit 200K KRW
Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) items (NHIS not applied):
→ You get back 70% of the cost
→ Annual limit 50,000,000 KRW
3 major non-covered items (manual therapy / injections / MRI) rider:
→ Manual therapy (non-covered)/extracorporeal shock wave: annual 3.5M KRW (50 times)
→ Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) injection: annual 2.5M KRW (50 times)
→ MRI/MRA: annual 3M KRW
Not covered:
❌ Cosmetic surgery
❌ Health checkups (not for treatment)
❌ Most dental care
❌ If you violate the duty to disclose (hide past medical history)
How much is it per month?
Monthly premium for 4th-generation Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) (basic plan + Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) special rider):
| Age group | Monthly insurance premium |
|---|---|
| people in their 20s | About 7,000~12,000 KRW |
| 30s | About 10,000~18,000 KRW |
| 40s | About 15,000~30,000 KRW |
| 50s | about 25,000~45,000 KRW |
Compared to international insurance (Cigna, Allianz, etc.) that costs 150,000~450,000 KRW per month, it is very cheap.
However, it is renewed every year. The insurance premium may go up.
As of 2026, the average increase rate is about 7.8%. If you use many Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo), an extra charge is added (up to +300%).
On the other hand, if you do not receive any insurance money for 2 years, you get a 10% discount.
How to get your money back
Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) works by getting money back later. First, you pay at the hospital, and then you file a claim with the insurance company.
Get the medical bill receipt + detailed statement at the hospital
Submit documents through the insurance company app or to your insurance agent
After the insurer reviews it, the money will be deposited into your account.
Claim deadline: within 3 years from the treatment date
Outpatient 30,000 KRW or less: OK if you only have the receipt
Outpatient over 100,000 KRW: You also need a medical certificate or treatment confirmation
Hospitalization: Hospitalization confirmation + detailed statement needed
If Korean is difficult, you can ask an agent to handle the claim for you. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance's foreign customer team provides this service.
How is it different from international insurance?
Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) and international insurance (Cigna, Allianz, etc.) are different in nature.
| Features | Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) | International insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly insurance premium | 10,000~30,000 KRW | 150K~450K KRW |
| Available hospitals | ✅ All hospitals in Korea | ✅ Hospitals around the world |
| NHIS linkage | ✅ Efficient | ❌ |
| Use abroad | ❌ Only in Korea | ✅ Worldwide |
| Language | ❌ Korean only | ✅ English support |
| Payment method | ❌ Pay first and get reimbursed later | ✅ Direct payment available |
| Emergency transport | ❌ | ✅ Included |
If you stay in Korea for a long time and are familiar with the Korean medical system → Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance)
If you often leave the country or definitely need English support → international insurance
You can also sign up for both.
guideLayout.timelineDesc
Check NHIS enrollment
An NHIS certificate of enrollment is a required condition. If you do not have it, you cannot apply for Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) at all.
Check eligibility by visa type
No limits for F visa, and Skilled Worker/Non-professional Worker/Student etc. only for workplace insurance subscribers. Job Seeking/Working Holiday etc. not allowed.
Apply to the insurance company
Documents: NHIS enrollment certificate, ARC copy, passport copy, document to confirm Status of residence code.
Claim: Get hospital expenses reimbursed
Pay first at the hospital, then submit the receipt to the insurance company app or your agent. Within 3 years.
guideLayout.keyBenefitsDesc
80% refund for NHI-covered service (geupyeo)
Get back 80% of the NHIS-covered out-of-pocket cost. Annual limit: 50,000,000 KRW.
70% refund for Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo)
Get back 70% of the cost for MRI, Manual therapy (non-covered), Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) injections, and more.
10K~30K KRW per month
Compared to international insurance (monthly 150,000~450,000 KRW), it is very cheap. Same insurance premium as Koreans.
guideLayout.warningsDesc
NHIS enrollment is a prerequisite
Cannot apply without an NHIS enrollment certificate. Within 6 months of entry, both NHIS and private indemnity insurance are difficult to get.
Please make sure to follow the duty to disclose.
If you hide your past medical history, you may not get insurance money later or your contract may be canceled. Be honest about your overseas medical records too.
Use of Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) → insurance premium increase
If yearly insurance payouts for Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) go over 1,000,000 KRW, next year’s premium can be up to 4 times higher. If you have no claims for 2 years, you get a 10% discount.
guideLayout.checklistDesc
guideLayout.contactsDesc
guideLayout.relatedArticlesDesc
guideLayout.faqTitle
Not absolutely necessary, but if you ever need Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) treatment (MRI, Manual therapy (non-covered), etc.), it helps a lot. Solve your worries about Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) with 10,000~20,000 KRW per month.
If your visa changes to one that cannot enroll (such as Job Seeking, Working Holiday), you may not be able to keep it. When you change your visa, please check with the insurer.
Medical interpretation for foreigners English consultation is available through Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance’s foreign customer team (Medical interpretation for foreigners). The contract is in Korean, but the agent will help you.
I’ll tell you how to live in Korea.
Please give lots of love to gltr life.
This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.