A complete guide to Korean National Health Insurance (NHIS) for foreign English teachers — enrollment process, premium rates, coverage details, and how to use your health card in Korea.
Teachers teaching with public school programs such as EPIK, GEPIK, and SMOE will receive medical coverage. Medical Insurance Coverage is contributed to a teacher by their school. Schools and employers in accordance with Korean law will pay 50% of the cost of medical insurance coverage for an employee. The other 50% is deducted from the employee’s salary monthly.
Coverage
Coverage includes general doctor checkups as well as vision and dental. Cosmetic surgery is not covered.
Automatic Enrollment
Newly arriving teachers for public school programs will automatically be enrolled in the Korean healthcare system and do not need to register for it on their own. Once processed, teachers will receive a medical insurance card that they should keep with them at all times. However, most doctor’s offices will be able to find a patient’s coverage details via their Korean ID number.