Settling health insurance when you leave Korea

Sort out your health insurance before you leave. Without settling, arrears remain or a refund is lost.

What to do

1. File loss of eligibility — departure ends your enrolment.
2. Settle unpaid premiums — pay what is outstanding.
3. Claim any overpayment — you get it back.
4. Check the refund account — ask whether payment to an overseas account is possible.

Steps

1. Contact 1577-1000 once your departure is set.
2. Check unpaid and overpaid amounts.
3. Settle.
4. Register the account for the refund. Keeping a Korean account open is safest.
5. If on workplace enrolment, confirm the company files the loss.

What you need

• Alien Registration Card and passport
• Your departure date (flight ticket)
• A bank account in your name
• Your company contact (for workplace enrolment)

Where to go

• 1577-1000 National Health Insurance Service
• Your nearest branch
• 1345 Immigration Contact Center
• 1355 National Pension Service (the pension refund is separate)

Questions people ask

Is the national pension settled at the same time? No, it is separate. Ask 1355 about the lump-sum refund. It depends on agreements with your country.

Should I close my account before leaving? If a refund is pending, keep it open. Ask your bank how to use it from abroad.

I plan to come back. Your eligibility is recalculated on re-entry. Ask the Service then.

What if I leave without settling? Arrears remain, and it can cause problems next time you enter and go through immigration procedures.

Take care

The days before departure are hectic. Call 1577-1000 and 1355 on the day you buy your ticket.

Related

nhis-premium · nhis-arrears · severance-departure · return-cost-insurance

Source

National Health Insurance Service www.nhis.or.kr / As of 2026-08