Chronic disease care for foreigners: benefits for patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer
If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you only need to pay 20% of the hospital cost. If it is cancer, only 5%.
If you register at a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) for chronic disease management, your copayment for high blood pressure and diabetes goes from 30%→20%. With the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye), cancer is 5%, rare diseases are 10%, and tuberculosis is 0%.
If you manage high blood pressure and diabetes, your hospital bills go down.
Starting in 2024, the chronic disease management program has been expanded nationwide.
Eligible conditions: hypertension, diabetes
Benefits:
→ Your copayment at a nearby Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) is reduced from 30% → 20%
→ Annual health lifestyle practice support payment (wellness points) up to 80K KRW (up to 80K KRW per year)
→ The doctor makes a personalized care plan for you
→ Includes health education and counseling
If you register at a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) for chronic disease management, your out-of-pocket cost goes down from 30% to 20%.
Visit a local Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) designated for chronic disease management
Make a care plan after consulting with a doctor
Visit regularly and take care
Foreigners are also eligible if they are NHIS members. However, the education and counseling are provided in Korean.
If it is a severe disease, your out-of-pocket cost goes down a lot.
What is the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye)? Simply put, it is a 'special discount for serious diseases'. For illnesses that cost a lot to treat, like cancer or rare diseases, this system gives you a bigger insurance discount.
If you have a serious illness such as cancer or a rare disease, you may be able to get the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye). Your out-of-pocket cost goes down a lot.
Out-of-pocket cost by disease:
→ Cancer: 5% (for 5 years)
→ Cerebrovascular/heart disease surgery: 5% (30~60 days)
→ Severe burns: 5% (1 year)
→ Rare diseases (1,165 types): 10% (5 years)
→ Severe intractable diseases (208 types): 10% (5 years)
→ Severe dementia: 10% (5 years)
→ Tuberculosis: 0% (completely free)
Foreigners also get the same coverage if they are enrolled in NHIS.
Example: Normally, your out-of-pocket cost is 20–60%, but if it is cancer, you only need to pay 5%. If the treatment cost is 10,000,000 KRW, you only pay 500,000 KRW.
How to apply for the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye)
Apply at the hospital.
If you apply within 30 days after the diagnosis, it is applied retroactively from the diagnosis date. Tell the hospital right away.
After the doctor in charge makes the diagnosis, fill out the application form to register for the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye).
The hospital submits it to NHIS
Coverage starts when NHIS approves it
Deadline: If you apply within 30 days from the diagnosis date, it is applied retroactively from the diagnosis date.
If you apply after 30 days, it is applied from the application date.
Renewal:
→ Before the period ends, the doctor in charge applies for an extension
→ For cancer, re-registration is possible after 5 years (if it comes back)
There is no special procedure for foreigners. You can apply at the hospital the same way as Koreans.
How to check:
→ In the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app > Eligibility check, confirm whether you are registered for the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye)
→ Or call NHIS National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)
Long-Term Care Insurance also applies to foreigners.
Long-Term Care Insurance is automatically enrolled together with health insurance. You are paying a separate premium (check on your payslip).
To use it:
→ If daily life is difficult for 6 months or more
→ Apply for grade assessment → review → grade decision
→ If you receive grade 1~5 or a cognitive support grade, you can use the service
Service types:
→ Home-based NHI-covered service (geupyeo): home care, home bathing, home nursing
→ Facility NHI-covered service (geupyeo): admission to a care home
→ Special cash NHI-covered service (geupyeo): family caregiving expenses
Foreign user status:
→ Foreign users increase by 12.3% per year (Koreans: 1.9%)
→ 86.8% are Chinese nationals
→ Foreigners use facilities 2.8 times more than Koreans (because awareness of home-care services is low)
Non-professional Worker/Working Visit/D-3 visas can apply for exemption from Long-Term Care Insurance premiums.
What foreigners with chronic illnesses should know
These are things to be careful about when managing chronic diseases in Korea.
Medication prescription:
→ There is no automatic refill in Korea. To get medicine, you need to see a doctor every time.
→ When entering the country, you can bring your own medicine for up to 3 months
→ Prepare your Prescription (cheobangjeon) (in English) and the medicine ingredient names
Public health center (bogeonso) programs:
→ Foreigners can also get free/low-cost services at the Public health center (bogeonso)
→ Free blood pressure and blood sugar checks
→ Vaccinations (some free)
→ Tuberculosis screening (free)
→ In areas with many foreigners, there are also mobile clinics
Language barrier:
→ Chronic disease management education is only provided in Korean
→ Interpretation support is available at 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center
→ The medicine pouch instructions are also in Korean → Use the Naver Papago app to take a photo of the medicine pouch and the Prescription (cheobangjeon) and translate them.
From July 2026:
→ Pilot program for the “Korean-style primary care doctor system” begins (for ages 50 and older)
→ A model where your doctor manages your health in a comprehensive way
When the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye) period ends, it goes back to the regular out-of-pocket payment. Before it expires, check with your doctor about extending it.
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Register a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) for chronic disease management
If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, register at a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) for management. Your copay is reduced from 30%→20% + wellness points.
Apply for the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye) (serious cases)
For diagnoses such as cancer, cerebrovascular disease, heart disease, and rare diseases, apply at the hospital within 30 days. Applied retroactively.
Regular management
There is no automatic prescription refill in Korea. Make a hospital appointment before your medicine runs out.
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20% discount for hypertension and diabetes
If you register for chronic disease management at a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier), your copay at your local clinic goes from 30%→20%.
Cancer 5%, Tuberculosis 0%
With the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye), cancer is 5% for 5 years, rare diseases are 10%, and tuberculosis is completely free.
Wellness points 80,000 KRW
If you join chronic disease management, you can get up to 80,000 KRW per year as a healthy lifestyle practice support fund.
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Apply for the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye) within 30 days
If you apply within 30 days after the diagnosis, it is applied retroactively from the diagnosis date. After 30 days, it is applied only from the application date.
No automatic prescription refill
There is no automatic refill system in Korea. You need to see a doctor every time to get a prescription.
Prepare about 3 months’ worth when entering the country
You can bring medicine from your home country for up to 3 months. Prepare an English Prescription (cheobangjeon) and the ingredient name.
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Yes! If you are enrolled in NHIS, it is the same as for Koreans. You can apply at the hospital.
Yes! Blood pressure and blood sugar measurement, vaccinations, tuberculosis screening, etc. are available regardless of insurance status.
Yes! 0% out-of-pocket under the Special reduced copayment program for certain serious illnesses (sanjeong teukrye). Checkups at the Public health center (bogeonso) are also free.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.