National health insurance continues to be in the black for foreign subscribers = South Korea
Foreigners staying in South Korea for more than six months must enroll in health insurance (illustration) = (Yonhap News)
(Seoul Yonhap News) On the 28th, it was revealed that the financial balance of national health insurance for foreigners residing in South Korea (including overseas citizens) was 556 billion won (about 61.6 billion yen) in the black by 2022. Some people have a negative view that foreign subscribers are a burden on health insurance finances, but in reality, they are in the black every year and contribute to strengthening the strength of health insurance companies. Public finances. According to data presented by the National Health Insurance Corporation to opposition legislators in the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, the amount of premiums paid by foreign health insurance subscribers in 2022 was 1, 7892 trillion won. Health insurance underwriters are divided into workplace underwriters and local underwriters. In 2022, foreigners paid 1.2846 trillion won for workplace subscribers and 504.6 billion won for local subscribers. After using medical institutions such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, these foreigners paid 1.2332 trillion won in medical expenses for health insurance to medical institutions in 2022. The amount paid for health insurance was 556 billion won less than the amount paid by foreigners, and the financial balance of health insurance was a surplus of 556 billion won. As for the financial situation of the National Health Insurance Corporation for the past five years, the amount of surplus has been increasing year by year. 232 billion won in 2018, 373.6 billion won in 2019, 587.5 billion won in 2020, 525.1 billion won in 2021, and 556 billion won in 2022, total profit is of 2.2742 trillion won. In terms of foreign subscribers by nationality, China is the only country among the top 10 countries with the largest number of subscribers, with the amount paid for health insurance exceeding the premium paid. Health insurance funding in 2022 was in the red at 22.9 billion won. However, the deficit is shrinking from 150.9 billion won in 2018 to 98.7 billion won in 2019, 23.9 billion won in 2020, and 10.9 billion won in 2021. The authorities have worked for several years to improve the insurance system health for foreigners. Since July 2019, the National Health Insurance Corporation has made it mandatory for foreigners (including overseas citizens) staying in South Korea for more than six months to sign up for health insurance. Before, foreigners, except those who joined the workplace, could freely choose whether or not to join the local health insurance. There were also cases of patients returning to their home countries after receiving treatment. The authorities plan to review the system for dependents of foreigners in the future.
