Medical benefit — reducing hospital costs

Medical benefit is separate from health insurance and greatly reduces hospital costs. It is one strand of basic livelihood security.

How it differs

• Health insurance means paying premiums and a share of costs.
• Medical benefit means the state covers costs, so your share is very small or nil.
• Recipients are basic livelihood beneficiaries and others set by law.

Steps

1. Apply at your community service centre, often together with the basic livelihood application.
2. Undergo the income and asset assessment.
3. If approved, medical benefit eligibility is granted.
4. Tell the hospital you are a medical benefit recipient.
5. Follow the referral order (primary → secondary → tertiary institutions).

What you need

• ID
• Income and asset documents
• Family relationship and residence documents
• Medical records, if any

Where to go

• Your local community service centre
• 129 health and welfare counselling
• 1577-1000 National Health Insurance Service
• 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline (interpretation)
• Your nearest public health centre

Questions people ask

Are foreign residents eligible? The same rules as basic livelihood security apply. See the basic-livelihood-eligibility guide.

If I don't qualify, can I not go to hospital? You can. Health insurance, public health centres, free clinics and the emergency cost deferred payment scheme are alternatives. See the medical-cost-without-insurance guide.

Can I go straight to a large hospital? Medical benefit follows a referral order starting at primary clinics. Emergencies are the exception.

Are medicines covered? Prescription medicines are included. Tell the pharmacy you are on medical benefit.

Take care

Some people are eligible but pay in full without knowing. Always say so at hospital registration. Once you are a recipient, do not forget to tell hospitals and pharmacies.

Related

basic-livelihood · basic-livelihood-eligibility · medical-cost-without-insurance · nhis-foreigners-overview

Source

Ministry of Health and Welfare, Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr / As of 2026-08