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Health insurance made mandatory for foreigners

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All foreigners contracted to work for one year or more in Republic of Korea​ must register for health insurance following a revision of the National Health Insurance Act last year.

Seo Jong-peel, an official at the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC), said that as of Jan. 1, companies employing foreigners must register them for insurance. “Before this, foreigners could join the NHIC program on a voluntary basis,” he said.

Seo said the Act's revision aims to protect migrant workers, particularly laborers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Because companies are responsible for paying half of the insurance premiums, some employers were unwilling to offer health insurance for foreign workers. Premiums vary depending on monthly salary.

According to Justice Ministry statistics, over 430,000 foreigners were working in Republic of Korea​ last year.

However, while Seo indicated some 200,000 foreigners were registered with the NHIC as of 2004, it is difficult to assess how many foreign workers will be required to have their details registered with the NHIC under the revised Act.

Workers registered with national health insurance receive subsidies of more than 50 percent on treatment at hospitals and clinics, as well as paying only 30 percent of the total costs for prescription drugs at the pharmacy.

For more information about the NHIC, visit its Web site at www.nhic.or.kr or call (02) 3270-9836~9.

The source of news : Korea.net   January 10, 2006