How medical prices work in Korea

Korean medical bills mix two kinds of items: treatments covered by National Health Insurance, whose prices are fixed by the government, and non-covered treatments (비급여, bigeubyeo), whose prices each hospital sets for itself. ClinicSum is about the second kind.

Covered treatments: fixed prices

For most consultations, tests, operations and hospital stays, the government sets one national fee. If you are insured, you pay a share of it (the co-payment) and National Health Insurance pays the rest. Every hospital of the same kind charges the same fee for the same covered item.

Non-covered treatments: each hospital sets its price

Treatments outside insurance cover — LASIK, most dental crowns and implants, many vaccines for adults, private rooms, certificates, cosmetic procedures — are priced freely by each hospital. Since prices can differ a lot, Korean law requires hospitals to report them, and HIRA publishes them. That is the data on ClinicSum.

If you live in Korea

Most foreigners staying in Korea for six months or more are enrolled in National Health Insurance, either through their employer or as a local subscriber. Insured foreigners get the same cover as Koreans: covered treatments at the co-payment rate, non-covered treatments at the hospital’s price. Show your Alien Registration Card at reception so the hospital can check.

If you are visiting

Without Korean insurance you pay the full price for everything — covered items at the full government fee, plus non-covered items at the hospital’s price. Keep the receipt and itemised bill for your travel insurer (see documents for insurance claims).

Tips before you book

• Ask for a written estimate that lists every item — tests, materials and follow-up visits often add to the headline price.
• Compare the estimate with the median on the ClinicSum page for that treatment. A big difference is worth a question.
• Prices differ by kind of hospital — large university hospitals are not always the most expensive. Each ClinicSum page compares university, general and other hospitals.
• For a particular clinic, see how to check a clinic’s price on HIRA.