Korea Health Insurance Calculator for Foreigners

If you live in Korea for 6+ months, NHIS enrollment is mandatory. Estimate your monthly premium — salary-based if employed, average premium if self-employed. (2026 basis)

Estimated monthly NHIS premium

Choose your enrollment type and calculate.

What this tool does

If you live in Korea for six months or more, enrollment in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) is mandatory. Employees pay based on salary (7.19% split with the employer, plus long-term care), while the self-employed, unemployed, and students pay under a foreigner rule: the higher of income/asset scoring or the average premium — about ₩158,640 per month in 2026. Students on a D-2 or D-4 visa get a 50% reduction. This calculator estimates your monthly and annual premium by enrollment type. All inputs stay in your browser.

Who uses this

New arrivals estimating their premium before the 6-month mandatory enrollment
Employees checking the health + long-term care deduction on their payslip
Self-employed and freelancers budgeting for the regional premium
International students confirming the 50% reduced rate
Anyone comparing employee vs self-employed enrollment cost

How to use (4 steps)

1Choose your enrollment type: employee (working at a company) or self-employed/student.
2If employed, enter your monthly salary. The calculator applies your 3.595% share plus 13.14% long-term care.
3If self-employed, check the student box if you hold a D-2/D-4 visa and meet the income/asset limits for the 50% reduction.
4Click Calculate to see your monthly and annual premium, with the employer's matching share shown for reference.

Formula (NHIS 2026)

Employee (your share): Health = monthly salary × 3.595% (capped between ₩10,080 and ₩4,591,740) Long-term care = Health × 13.14% Monthly = Health + Long-term care (employer pays the same amount) Self-employed (foreigner rule): Monthly = max(income/asset score, average premium ₩158,640) Student (D-2/D-4) = ₩158,640 × 50% = ₩79,320

Real examples (2026)

Employee earning ₩3M/month

Health = 3M × 3.595% = ₩107,850. Long-term care = ₩14,171. Monthly = about ₩122,021 (your share); the employer pays the same amount on top.

Self-employed foreigner

Most pay the average premium — ₩158,640/month (₩1,903,680/year) — even with low reported income, because of the foreigner floor rule.

International student (D-2)

With the 50% reduction, ₩79,320/month, provided annual income is ₩3.6M or less and assets ₩135M or less.

NHIS enrollment & usage checklist for foreigners

Mandatory enrollment & eligibility

Any foreigner who has stayed 6+ months is auto-enrolled as a local (self-employed) subscriber the day after the 6-month mark — mandatory since 16 Jul 2019.
Covered statuses include D-2, D-4, E-1–E-10, H-1, H-2, F-1–F-4, G-1, and overseas Koreans.
Use the NHIS 'expected local-subscriber enrollment date' simulator on nhis.or.kr to estimate your date in advance.
You can apply for exemption only with proof of equivalent coverage under a foreign law, private insurance, or employer contract.
Handle all foreigner matters through the NHIS Center for Foreign Residents (☎ 1577-1000, English support).

Employee vs local subscriber & premiums

If you work for an insured company you are 'employee insured' — premium is wage × 7.19% (2026), split 50/50 with your employer; this overrides local status.
If not employed you are 'local insured' — premium is based on household income, property, and vehicles.
D-2/D-4 students and F-4 overseas-Korean students get a local-premium reduction (commonly cited as 50% — verify the current rate).
Set up auto-debit (CMS) — local premiums are due by the 25th of the preceding month.
Extra reductions exist for remote islands/areas (up to 50%) and farming/fishing villages (22%).

Non-payment consequences (critical)

Unpaid premiums suspend ALL benefits from the arrears date until paid in full — you pay full price at hospitals.
Arrears can block your visa extension and other immigration procedures — clear them before any appointment.
Auto-debit is the safest way to protect both your benefits and your immigration standing.
Check your balance and payment history on the NHIS website or mobile app to catch arrears early.

Card, dependents & hospital use

Request your insurance card / certificate through the NHIS Center for Foreign Residents.
Register dependents with an ARC plus an apostilled family-relationship document (dated within 9 months) and a notarized Korean translation.
Go to a primary clinic (1차) first; you need a referral (의뢰서) to use a tertiary general hospital with coverage.
Co-payment rates differ by institution level (clinic vs general vs tertiary) and inpatient/outpatient.
NHIS does not cover non-covered (비급여) items — consider private indemnity (실손) insurance for those gaps.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to join NHIS as a foreigner?

Yes. After six months in Korea you are automatically enrolled as a regional subscriber. Employees join immediately through their company, and students (D-2/D-4) join upon foreign registration.

Why is my premium fixed even though I earn little?

Foreign regional subscribers pay at least the average premium (about ₩158,640 in 2026). Income/asset scoring only raises it above that floor — it cannot go below.

How much is the student discount?

50% off the average premium, about ₩79,320/month, if your annual income is ₩3.6M or less and assets are ₩135M or less.

What happens if I don't pay?

Unpaid premiums can block your visa extension — immigration checks tax and NHIS arrears. Late fees and asset seizure are also possible.

Is long-term care insurance included?

For employees, yes — it is 13.14% of the health premium, shown separately. The regional average premium already reflects the total payment.

Does this include income/asset scoring for the self-employed?

No. It uses the average-premium floor that most foreigners actually pay. High-income or high-asset foreigners may pay more.

Can I be exempted?

If you have equivalent coverage through foreign insurance or an employer contract, you can apply for an exemption with NHIS.

Cautions

•Regional income/asset scoring is not modeled — the calculator uses the average-premium floor most foreigners pay. High earners or asset holders may pay more.
•The average premium (~₩158,640) is set yearly by NHIS each November — this is a 2026 estimate, verify annually.
•Employee figures apply the health-premium cap; very high or low salaries differ from a simple percentage.
•Reduction eligibility depends on individual income/asset review — confirm with NHIS (1577-1000).
•Reference estimate only; official assessment follows NHIS rules.