From April 2024, a Six-Month Residency Requirement for Foreigners to Receive Health Insurance Benefits
Starting April 2024, South Korea will enforce a new health insurance policy requiring foreigners and overseas Koreans to live in the country for at least six months to be eligible for health insurance coverage. This measure aims to prevent the misuse of health insurance benefits by those who briefly enter the country to receive expensive medical treatments at minimal insurance costs.
Key Changes
1. Six-Month Residency Requirement: Foreigners and overseas Koreans must reside in South Korea for a minimum of six months to qualify for public health insurance benefits as dependents. This rule mainly applies to family members.
2. Exceptions: Children under 19 and spouses of foreign workers can receive health insurance benefits immediately without the six-month residency requirement. This provision helps diplomatic and expatriate families settle in South Korea smoothly.
3. Immediate Eligibility Visas: Foreign spouses of Korean nationals, D-2 student visa holders, D-4-3 special training program visa holders, E-9 non-skilled worker visa holders, F-5 permanent residency visa holders, and F-6 marriage migrant visa holders are eligible for health insurance benefits upon arrival.
The new regulations aim to ensure fairness and sustainability in the health insurance system by encouraging long-term residence and contribution from foreigners, while preventing short-term exploitation of medical benefits.
Summary
- Foreigners and overseas Koreans need to live in South Korea for six months to get health insurance.
- Immediate benefits are available for children under 19 and spouses of foreign workers.
- Certain visa holders can get health insurance upon arrival.
📌 In the past, parents or siblings of foreign employees could be registered as dependents under health insurance if they met the criteria. This allowed them to enter Korea for surgeries or treatments and then return to their home countries when needed.
Starting April 3, 2024, foreigners and others entering Korea must reside in the country for more than six months to receive health insurance benefits as dependents, except for certain qualifying reasons.
As a result, those entering Korea with a short-term stay permit of 90 days or less can no longer be covered as dependents under the health insurance system.
This policy change underscores South Korea's efforts to maintain a fair and sustainable health insurance system by preventing its misuse and ensuring that only those who genuinely reside and contribute to the country can benefit from its healthcare services.
