Health Authorities Called to Review NHI Policies Amid Chinese Patients Represent 61.1% of Foreign Users

2024-09-20 Jung Suk-yee

Chinese nationals alone made up 61.1% of all foreign nationals using the NHI and accounted for 68.6% of the total expenditure on foreign nationals' medical treatment.

According to data submitted on September 19 by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) to Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the People Power Party, who is the secretary of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, a total of 4,185,439 foreign nationals received medical treatment using South Korea's National Health Insurance (NHI) last year. Among them, 2.55 million were Chinese nationals, who accounted for the majority of foreign patients and received benefits amounting to 1.1809 trillion won (approximately $908 million).

The total amount of benefits paid by the NHI for foreign nationals' medical treatment last year was 1.7206 trillion won. Chinese nationals alone made up 61.1% of all foreign nationals using the NHI and accounted for 68.6% of the total expenditure on foreign nationals' medical treatment. Following China, the countries with the highest number of NHI users were Vietnam (270,000 people), the United States (190,000 people), and Uzbekistan (140,000 people).

The expenditure on Chinese nationals has been increasing yearly, with 845.3 billion won spent in 2019, 866.7 billion won in 2020, 988.2 billion won in 2021, 1.1235 trillion won in 2022, and 1.1809 trillion won in 2023. This upward trend highlights the growing reliance on South Korea's NHI by Chinese residents.

Last year, the most commonly used medical departments by Chinese nationals were internal medicine, orthopedics, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, and dermatology. Specifically, 533,206 Chinese nationals received treatment in internal medicine, with the NHIS disbursing a total of 283.54338 billion won in benefits. For general practitioners, 2,009 Chinese nationals received treatment, and the NHIS disbursed 250.55260 billion won in benefits.

Rep. Kim Mi-ae emphasized the need for the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service to strengthen monitoring and review policies to prevent reverse discrimination between domestic and foreign nationals. "As the number of foreign patients receiving medical treatment using South Korea's National Health Insurance reaches millions each year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service should strengthen monitoring and review related policies to prevent reverse discrimination between domestic and foreign nationals," she stated.

South Korea's National Health Insurance System (NHI) is a compulsory social insurance program that provides healthcare coverage to all citizens and registered foreign residents. Foreign nationals residing in South Korea for more than six months are required to enroll in the NHI, which includes international students, workers, and long-term residents. This system aims to ensure universal healthcare access and is funded through contributions from employees, employers, and the government.

The increasing number of foreign residents, particularly from China, due to factors such as education, employment opportunities, and familial ties, has significant implications for the healthcare system. The high utilization of NHI services by foreign nationals, especially Chinese residents, raises questions about sustainability, resource allocation, and potential strain on the system. It also touches on social issues such as equity, access to healthcare, and the perception of reverse discrimination between domestic and foreign nationals.