Starting next year, foreigners will be required to stay in South Korea for a minimum of six months to qualify for health insurance dependent status. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – Starting next year, foreigners will be required to stay in South Korea for a minimum of six months to qualify for health insurance dependent status.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service on Thursday, a revision to the Health Insurance Act that introduces the stipulation requiring foreigners to have a minimum six-month residency in South Korea to be eligible for health insurance dependent status under employed insured individuals who reside in Korea has passed the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly on September 21. It is currently under review by the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
Assuming the revision passes through the resolution of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it is anticipated to take effect as early as January or no later than early March. This would occur after the regular session of the National Assembly scheduled for November or December.
The amendment includes the requirement for foreigners to have a stay of longer than six months in the country after their entry, in addition to other existing criteria such as their relationship with employed insured individuals and their income and assets, as a condition for eligibility for health insurance dependent status.
The purpose of this revision is to prevent short-term foreign residents from obtaining health insurance dependent status using their local relatives, thereby preventing instances where foreigners enter South Korea for medical procedures or treatment and then return to their home countries.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
