Getting medical records, civil complaints, objection filing
I need an English medical certificate. My insurance premium seems strange. My hospital bill was too high. — Summary of solutions.
The first detailed medical bill statement is free. You can request HIRA to check the medical bill. You can file an objection to the insurance premium within 90 days.
You can get your medical records like this.
If you received treatment at a hospital, you can get a medical record issued. It is the same for foreigners too.
By type:
→ Medical certificate: for sick leave, school submission, insurance (a few thousand to tens of thousands KRW)
→ Hospitalization/discharge confirmation / outpatient visit confirmation: for checking dates (low cost)
→ Copy of medical records: transfer to another hospital, legal use (1~5 pages 1,000 KRW/page)
→ English medical certificate: for overseas submission, insurance (about 20,000 KRW)
→ Imaging CD/DVD: CT, MRI, etc. (CD 10,000 KRW / DVD 20,000 KRW)
The detailed medical bill statement is free the first time. If the hospital bill seems strange, ask for it no matter what.
Apply at the hospital administration desk (reception counter)
Present your Alien Registration Card (ARC) (or passport)
Issued after confirmation by the doctor in charge
English medical certificate:
→ Most university hospitals can issue it in English
→ Small clinics or hospitals sometimes issue it only in Korean
→ Korean medical certificate → certified translation → notarization also works
→ Please make sure the English name matches your passport exactly
If the hospital bill seems strange, check it.
If your hospital bill was too high, or insurance should have been applied but was not, you can check it.
Step 1: Ask for the detailed medical bill statement
→ At the hospital administration desk, just say "Please issue a detailed medical bill statement"
→ First 1 time is free (legal obligation)
→ You can see all costs by item
1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center Step 2: Ask HIRA to check your medical bill
→ Check whether an item billed as a Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) is actually a NHI-covered service (geupyeo)
→ You can apply online at Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA)
→ Phone: 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center
→ Fax: 033-811-7322
→ HIRA asks the hospital for documents and reviews them
→ If overcharging is confirmed, you get a refund (Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA)에서)
Note: Medical expenses from more than 5 years ago cannot be checked.
The International Medical Center at a university hospital is the most convenient. But you can also get it issued at a local Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier)! Under medical law, a doctor who examined you can issue a medical certificate in any language. The issuance fee is up to 20,000 KRW (price cap applies).
💡 Before you visit, call and check in advance if they can issue an 'English medical certificate'.
If you have an objection to the insurance premium or NHI-covered service (geupyeo)
If the insurance premium was calculated incorrectly, or if insurance was not applied, you can file an appeal.
Who can file an objection:
→ When the insurance premium came out too high
→ When insurance coverage was not applied
→ When the NHI-covered service (geupyeo) was limited
How to apply:
→ Visit an NHIS branch office (submit an objection form)
→ Online: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) (공동인증서 required)
→ Mail/Fax
→ Deadline: within 90 days from the date you became aware of the decision
Processing: decision within 60 days
If you disagree with the decision:
→ File an appeal with the NHIS Dispute Mediation Committee (within 90 days)
→ If it still does not work, file an administrative lawsuit
Premium adjustment (simpler than an objection):
→ If your income decreased, you can apply for a premium adjustment
→ Apply on National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) or in the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app
→ It applies from the month after you apply
You cannot apply after 90 days from the day you became aware of the decision. Don’t miss the deadline.
If it’s not resolved, go here
I organized the contact information by problem type.
Premium, eligibility, and NHI-covered service (geupyeo) problems:
→ NHIS National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) (press 7 for foreign languages)
→ Direct foreign language line: NHIS Wonju Headquarters
1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center Medical expense check and review:
→ HIRA 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center
Medical accidents and medical disputes:
→ Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency Guidance for medical expense reimbursement insurance claims (Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance))
→ Online: k-medi.or.kr
→ English/Chinese available (1 staff member in charge)
Administrative grievance civil complaint:
→ National Petition Portal epeople.go.kr
→ Phone: Government Civil Service Call Center
Discrimination and human rights violations:
→ National Human Rights Commission 02-2125-9700
→ Online: case.humanrights.go.kr
If you are not sure what to do:
→ 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center (20 languages)
→ They will guide you on which organization to contact
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Request for detailed medical expense statement
Free issuance at the hospital administration office (first time only). It shows all costs by item.
Check medical expenses on HIRA
1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center Check whether the item billed as Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) is a NHI-covered service (geupyeo). 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center or Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA).
Insurance premium appeal
If the insurance premium was set incorrectly, apply to an NHIS branch within 90 days from the disposition date.
Escalation
If it is not solved, try the NHIS Dispute Mediation Committee, the Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency, or the National Petition Portal.
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Detailed statement free
Free for the first time. If the hospital bill seems strange, definitely request it.
HIRA medical expense check
If overbilling is confirmed, a refund is possible. Treatment within 5 years is eligible.
Premium adjustment
If your income goes down, you can apply to adjust your insurance premium. It is simpler and faster than filing an objection.
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Objection application: 90-day deadline
You cannot apply after 90 days from the day you became aware of the decision. Don’t miss the deadline.
Refusing medical treatment is illegal
It is illegal if a hospital refuses treatment just because you are a foreigner. Report it to 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center.
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Most university hospitals can issue it in English (about 20,000 KRW). Small clinics usually handle it in Korean → certified translation → notarization.
If your income decreased, apply for an adjustment (National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) or app). If that doesn’t work, file an objection (within 90 days).
Request the itemized statement (free) → Ask HIRA (1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center) to check → If there is overbilling, get a refund.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.