Linking medical care and welfare

Schemes exist precisely to prevent "I gave up treatment because I had no money".

Schemes to know

1. Medical benefit — support with medical costs for low-income households. See medical-benefit.
2. Out-of-pocket ceiling — costs above an annual limit are refunded. 1577-1000.
3. Catastrophic medical expense support — when heavy costs threaten your livelihood. See emergency-medical-fund.
4. Emergency welfare medical support — for sudden crises. See emergency-welfare.
5. Medical cost support for foreign residents — run by local governments and private foundations. See foreigner-medical-support.
6. Free clinics — see free-clinics.

Who to tell first

1. The hospital's social work office — present in large hospitals. Go there first; they help connect you to schemes.
2. The administration desk — for instalment arrangements.
3. Your community centre — applying for medical benefit and emergency welfare.
4. 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre — guidance on which scheme fits.
5. Local foreign resident centres and migrant NGOs — links to private support. See ngo-support.

What to prepare

• Alien registration card
• Receipts and the detailed statement of charges — see hospital-bill-understand.
• Medical certificates and doctor's notes
• Income and asset documents, where applicable
• A copy of your bankbook

Where to go

• The hospital's social work office
• 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre
• 1577-1000 National Health Insurance Service (out-of-pocket ceiling)
• Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr
• 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre (multilingual)

Questions people ask

I have no health insurance. Some support is available without insurance. Explain your situation to the hospital social work office and 129. See medical-cost-without-insurance.

My residence status is precarious. In an emergency, get treated first. Eligibility is worked out in counselling. Free clinics also exist. See free-clinics.

Treatment is already finished — can I still claim? Deadlines differ by scheme. Keep the receipts and ask 129.

I don't know where to start. Call 129, describe your situation, and they will point you to the right scheme. It is free.

Take care

Delaying treatment costs you most. An illness left to grow costs more to treat. Speak to the hospital social work office first — most hospitals help connect you to support. Always keep receipts and medical certificates.

Related

medical-benefit · emergency-medical-fund · foreigner-medical-support · free-clinics · welfare-application

Source

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