2025-26 Health Insurance Changes
Premium rate increase, eased suspension of NHI-covered service (geupyeo) for overdue payments, launch of 5th-generation Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) — only the changes that affect foreigners.
In 2026, the insurance premium rate is 7.19%(+1.48%). For foreigners, unpaid premiums are deferred up to 3 times (previously 1 time). 5th-generation Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) will be released in 2026.4.
Insurance premium rate: increased after being frozen for 2 years
The health insurance premium rate has changed.
| Year | Insurance premium rate | Workplace subscriber monthly payment | Resident subscriber monthly payment burden |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024~2025 | 7.09% (frozen) | About 158,000 KRW | About 89,000 KRW |
| 2026 | 7.19% (+1.48%) | About 161,000 KRW | about 90,000 KRW |
About 153,000 KRW/month (the overall average insurance premium is the minimum). Even if your income is low, it does not go below this amount. The Constitutional Court decided that this minimum clause is constitutional.
If you often get Manual therapy (non-covered) or Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) injections, please check carefully before joining the 5th-generation plan. Coverage for non-severe Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) is reduced a lot.
If payments are overdue, it stops right away → grace period up to 3 times
This is the biggest change in foreigner health insurance.
Before (until 2025.4.22):
→ Foreign nationals had their NHI-covered service (geupyeo) stopped immediately after just 1 missed insurance payment
→ There was no advance notice
→ Korean nationals were stopped after 6 missed payments + advance notice
Currently (from 2025.4.23):
→ Foreigners also have NHI-covered service (geupyeo) restrictions if they have overdue insurance premiums 3 times or more
→ If paid afterward, insurance benefits are recognized retroactively
Background:
→ In 2023, the Constitutional Court decided that "immediate suspension of NHI-covered service (geupyeo) for foreigners is unconstitutional"
→ It ordered the law to be revised by June 30, 2025
→ The revised law took effect on April 23, 2025
Foreign nationals (3 times) are still at a disadvantage compared to Koreans (6 times), but it has improved a lot compared to before (1 time).
From 2025.4.23, it is deferred up to 3 missed payments. But having unpaid dues itself is bad for visa extension, so please pay on time.
Overseas for more than 3 months → automatically restored immediately upon entry
This is a rule that changes from July 1, 2025.
Before:
→ Staying abroad for more than 3 months → NHI-covered service (geupyeo) is automatically suspended (insurance premium exemption)
→ After re-entry, you had to follow a separate procedure to restore NHI-covered service (geupyeo)
Current (2025.7.1~):
→ If you re-enter after staying abroad for more than 3 months
→ Automatic notice to the Corporation the day after entry
→ Automatic cancellation of suspension of NHI-covered service (geupyeo)
→ Insurance premium charged again based on the 1st day of that month
It is processed automatically without any separate procedure.
A new item has been added to the health checkup.
Starting in 2025, health checkups have been strengthened.
Newly added:
→ Hepatitis C antibody test — for people aged 56 (born in 1969), once in a lifetime
→ If positive, full support for the confirmatory test
Expansion:
→ Expanded eligible age for osteoporosis screening
→ Expanded eligibility for mental health checkups (20~34 years old)
Foreigners also get the same coverage if they are NHIS subscribers.
The 5th-generation Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) will come out in April 2026.
Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) is changing a lot.
Premium:
→ It becomes 30~50% cheaper than the 4th generation.
Changes to non-covered benefits:
→ Major Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) (cancer, cerebrovascular disease, heart disease): 50,000,000 KRW per year, 30% out-of-pocket
→ Non-severe Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) (Manual therapy (non-covered), non-covered injections, etc.): 10,000,000 KRW per year, 50% out-of-pocket
→ Non-severe coverage will be reduced a lot compared with the 4th generation
Newly included:
→ Pregnancy and childbirth NHI-covered service (geupyeo) medical expense coverage
Usage-linked:
→ -5% discount when using 0 KRW
→ +100% surcharge when using 1,000,000 KRW+
→ +300% surcharge when using 3,000,000 KRW+
Existing 4th-generation subscribers:
→ Planned to be gradually switched to the 5th generation during 2026.7~2036.6
Conditions may be different depending on when you joined Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance), so please talk with an agent.
Foreign health insurance is actually in surplus.
There are many misunderstandings about foreign residents and the health insurance finances.
Facts:
→ Foreigners' health insurance has recorded a surplus for 8 consecutive years (2017~2024)
→ 2024 surplus: 943.9M KRW (the highest ever)
→ Foreigners pay more in insurance premiums than the benefits they receive
Exception:
→ Chinese subscribers had a deficit every year from 2019 to 2023
→ But in 2024, it turned to a surplus of 5.5B KRW
Why is it important?
→ Some people think "foreigners abuse health insurance," but the financial data shows the opposite
→ One reason is that the minimum health insurance premium for foreigners is high
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Insurance premium rate increase (2026)
7.09% → 7.19%. Workplace subscriber monthly average increase of ~3K KRW.
Eased overdue payment rules (2025.4.23)
Immediate suspension of NHI-covered service (geupyeo) for foreigners → grace period until 3 missed payments. Improved after the Constitutional Court decision.
Automatic reinstatement upon re-entry (2025.7.1)
After staying abroad for 3 months+ and re-entering the country, the suspension of NHI-covered service (geupyeo) is automatically lifted.
5th-generation Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) (2026.4)
Premium 30~50% cheaper. Reduced coverage for non-severe Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) (annual 10,000,000 KRW, 50% copayment).
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Expanded deferral for overdue payments
Coverage is no longer stopped right away after 1 missed payment → grace period up to 3 times. If you pay later, it is recognized retroactively.
Automatic restoration upon re-entry
From 2025.7.1, insurance is automatically restored the day after entry without a separate procedure.
5th-generation indemnity insurance is affordable
30~50% cheaper than the 4th generation. Added medical expense coverage for pregnancy and childbirth NHI-covered service (geupyeo).
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Maintain the minimum insurance premium for foreigners
The minimum insurance premium for foreign Resident subscriber (~150,000 KRW/month) stays the same even if there is no income. The Constitutional Court said it is constitutional.
Reduced coverage for non-severe conditions in the 5th generation
If you often get Manual therapy (non-covered) and Non-covered service under NHI (bigeupyeo) injections, please check carefully before signing up for the 5th generation plan.
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7.09%→7.19%. For Workplace subscriber, monthly increase of about 3,000 won.
From 2025.4.23, if you have unpaid premiums 3 times or more, NHI-covered service (geupyeo) will be limited. If you pay later, it will be recognized retroactively.
Yes, same conditions as the existing indemnity insurance (NHIS enrollment + visa conditions). Launch in 2026.4.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.