Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter | The south Korean government is considering a plan to strengthen

the eligibility of health insurance for foreign dependents staying in South Korea for more than six months.

Health insurance dependents are the system that allows the family members who are dependent on working parents or children to receive medical insurance premiums due to lack of economic power. 

Accordingly, form July 2019, foreigners living in South Korea for more than 6 months are obliged to subscribe to health insurance as a local subscriber and pay the full insurance premium, unless they are an employee or dependent.

There were 1,250,398 foreign health insurance subscribers, of which 193,698 were foreign dependents

according to the data provided by the health insurance company.

The number of foreign residences in South Korea is continually increasing such as an increase in foreign

workers due to low birth rate and aging population, an increase in marriage immigrants, an influx of Koreans with foreign nationalities, an increase in foreign students and in order to eliminate the medical blind spot for

foreigners and secure fairness with locals,’19.7.16. 

Health Insurance Operation Performance for Foreigners

 

According to the mandatory application of health insurance survey 2021, “the increase in local foreign

subscribers (19.7) is 1,237,278 than 946,745 in 2018. That is being operated with stability in health insurance

premiums and wages balance surplus 225.5 billion won in 2018 to 512.5 billion won in 2021.”

Despite the above achievements in the operating health insurance for foreigners, the media and the National Assembly recently pointed out problems such as “excessive insurance premiums for foreigners” and “free

rides for foreign dependents” and demanded improvement of the system.

While reorganizing the health insurance premium system the government has continued to strengthen the

eligibility requirements for dependent foreigners. 

1-    As for the income standards, if the annual combined comprehensive taxable income standard exceeds

34 million won, the person will be excluded from dependents, but from this year the standard will be lowered to more than 20 million won.

2-    The property standard is eliminated, if the standard taxable value of property tax exceeds 900 million

won, and the annual income exceeds 10 million won and the standard taxable value exceeds 540 million won.

Therefore, the government said, it is rather easy to register as a dependent compared to Koreans because it is difficult to determine the income or property of foreigners.

The National Health Insurance Corporation official said, “it is impossible to figure out the property of the

foreigners coming from overseas and staying for a short time.” In case of foreign employee subscribes, if the

family members register themselves with 90 days of entering the country, they will be enrolled as health

insurance dependents.”

President Yoon Seok pointed out this case on Facebook during the presidential election and said, “we will

solve the problem of foreigners health insurance, which only puts a spoon on the well-prepared table.” 

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 19th that it would promote measures to improve the

standard for foreign dependents while reporting this year’s work plan to President Yoon.

The government is mulling over how to protect good foreign subscribers while excluding nonchalant foreign dependents who leave the country after receiving health insurance benefits without paying a single penny. In

the case of foreigners, it is likely to allow foreigners to register as dependents six months after entering Korea.

 

However, it is expected that direct descendants, such as spouses and minor children, will be able to register as dependents immediately after entering Korea without a six-month limit. 

An official of the Ministry of health and welfare said, “if foreign dependents are uniformly restricted by limiting their stay to 6 months, it may be difficult for the spouses or underage children of expatriates or diplomats

entering Korea to go to the hospital even if they are sick.” We want to make exceptions for them.”

 

Introduction of previous health insurance system for foreigners.

Since July 2019 the foreigners residing in South Korea for more than 6 months were obliged to the following health insurance system.
* Employee subscribers and their dependent family members are the same as Korean nationals in terms of

insurance benefits. But in case of local foreign subscribers the insurance premiums set differently in matters

regarding the period of subscription and standards of the characteristics of foreigners residing in Korea.

* Some sojourn qualifications are registered on the date of entry in order to prevent adverse selection due to health conditions, long-term (6 months or more). If the date of alien registration is later than the entry date,

the health insurance will be subscribed from the date of alien registration.

* The strict standards on household addition of local subscribers will be applicable in accordance of preventing avoidance of paying insurance premiums. Only minor children and married couples are recognized as

households, whereas adult children, lineal ascendants, etc. are separate households.

* In case of delinquent payment, the period of stay will be limited to 6 months only, and in case of

delinquency of 4 or more times, stay is not permitted as per ministry of justice guidelines. Also, insurance

benefits are limited until premiums are paid in full.

* Provision of information on delinquents over the age of 19 among delinquent insurance premiums of

500,000 won and other collections of 100,000 won or more to the Ministry of justice