By Bahk Eun-ji
Foreign students here will be exempted from the mandatory registration in the state health insurance program until February 2021, the insurance program operator said Wednesday.
The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced they would delay forcing foreign students to register by revising the relevant enforcement regulations, adding it would collect public opinion on the issue by July 5.
Initially the government planned to implement compulsory registration for all foreigns who have stayed in Korea for at least six months, including students, starting July 16. Under the new rule, these foreigners must subscribe to the state healthcare program.
They would have to pay up to 113,050 won ($97.50) per month on average, though the NHIS decided to halve the amount for foreign students following criticism that it would place a high financial burden on them.
So far, foreign students have usually been covered by private medical insurance programs mediated through their host university. Despite limits in coverage, it has been financially more accessible to students, set at around 10,000 won per month.
Despite the 50 percent cut in the monthly premium, calls have continued for foreign students to be given an exemption from the new rule.
Accepting the complaints, the government decided to extend the exemption to students until the end of February 2021.
"We decided on the delay by considering opinions from various sectors, including the education ministry, that the government needs to consider the specific situation of foreign students who are mostly registered with private insurance programs," an NHIS official said.
Foreign students here will be exempted from the mandatory registration in the state health insurance program until February 2021, the insurance program operator said Wednesday.
The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced they would delay forcing foreign students to register by revising the relevant enforcement regulations, adding it would collect public opinion on the issue by July 5.
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| The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Wednesday that they would delay forcing foreign students to register by revising the relevant enforcement regulations. Korea Times file |
They would have to pay up to 113,050 won ($97.50) per month on average, though the NHIS decided to halve the amount for foreign students following criticism that it would place a high financial burden on them.
So far, foreign students have usually been covered by private medical insurance programs mediated through their host university. Despite limits in coverage, it has been financially more accessible to students, set at around 10,000 won per month.
Despite the 50 percent cut in the monthly premium, calls have continued for foreign students to be given an exemption from the new rule.
Accepting the complaints, the government decided to extend the exemption to students until the end of February 2021.
"We decided on the delay by considering opinions from various sectors, including the education ministry, that the government needs to consider the specific situation of foreign students who are mostly registered with private insurance programs," an NHIS official said.
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