Can foreigners opt out of NHIS? Only in narrow cases

Some people say: "I have private insurance, so I can stop paying NHIS." That is not how the rule works. Membership is compulsory, and exclusion (가입 제외) is allowed only in narrow cases.

The rule
You can be excluded if a foreign law, a foreign insurance policy, or a contract with your employer gives you medical cover equal to NHIS benefits.

What does not count

• A policy you bought after your foreigner registration. NHIS only recognises foreign insurance taken out before you registered in Korea.
• Ordinary private insurance bought in Korea. The rule names foreign law, foreign insurance and employer contracts, nothing else.

How it works

• For employees, your employer files the request. Regional members (지역가입자) file it themselves, within 6 months of joining.
• Filed within 14 days of the membership report, the exclusion runs from your start date. Filed later, it runs from the application date, and the premiums before that are owed.
• Documents: proof of the foreign law, or the insurance contract, or the work contract and proof that the employer pays medical costs, plus a signed statement that you will not join NHIS, with Korean translations.
• Exclusion for foreign insurance or an employer contract lasts at most 1 year at a time. Then you apply again.
• If you were excluded under a foreign law you can rejoin at any time, but you cannot be excluded again for the same reason.

It depends on your employer, the cover you hold, and when you bought it.

Next step: before you assume you are out, ask NHIS (1577-1000, press 6) whether your cover qualifies. Until NHIS confirms, the premiums are owed.

Sources: NHIS, foreign members; NHIS, guidance for foreigners in English; Enforcement Rule, article 61-4. Checked 11 October 2026.