Korean health insurance after retirement
Once you leave work, property counts towards your premium. Works out the local-subscriber premium and compares it with continued employee cover.
While you are employed your company pays half the premium and property is not counted. Retiring changes both at once. As a local subscriber, the assessed value of your home and land enters the calculation alongside income — so the premium can rise even as income falls. It is the fixed cost most often left out of a retirement plan. This works out the local-subscriber premium and compares it with voluntary continued cover, which holds the employee-level premium for up to 36 months.
After you retire
What you enter is saved in this browser, so it is still here next time
Public pension, interest, dividends, business and other income added together. Read the caveat below.
The property tax base for your home and land — not its market value. ₩100,000,000 is deducted first.
Used to compare against staying on the employee scheme
Premiums are charged per household. If a partner or anyone else lives with you, add their income and property in. If you can be registered as a dependant the premium is zero — but income or property above certain limits ends that, so check with the insurance service.
On the self-employed scheme
Monthly premium (health + long-term care)
₩221,573
Health insurance
₩195,839
Long-term care insurance
₩25,734
Against staying on the employee scheme
Korea lets you keep paying at your employee rate for up to 36 months after leaving a job. Property is not counted in that premium, so it usually works out better for anyone who owns a home.
Staying on the employee rate
₩162,695
Self-employed scheme
₩221,573
Staying on the employee rate is ₩58,878 a month cheaper — ₩2,119,608 over the full 36 months. You have to apply within two months of the due date on your first self-employed premium notice.
Over 36 months
| Scheme | Monthly | 36 months |
|---|---|---|
| Staying on the employee rate | ₩162,695 | ₩5,857,020 |
| Self-employed scheme | ₩221,573 | ₩7,976,628 |
The insurance service counts only part of employment and pension income, using its own assessment rates. This calculator does not apply those rates — it uses the income you enter as it is. To match your actual notice, enter the income figure printed on it, or the one from the insurance service's own premium calculator. Property must be the property tax base, not market value. For the real figure, contact Korea's National Health Insurance Service on 1577-1000.
Make a link with these numbers
Opening the link fills this screen with the same values. Useful for going through it with a partner, or for comparing two sets of conditions.
Common questions
QWhy does the premium rise after retirement?
An employee's premium is charged on pay alone, and half of that is paid by the employer. As a local subscriber the employer's share disappears and the assessed property value of your home and land enters the calculation. That is why a premium can rise even when income falls.
QIs property valued at market price?
No — at the assessed value for property tax. A basic deduction of ₩100m is taken off and the remainder is scored across 60 bands, at ₩211.5 per point as of 2026. The assessed value is lower than market price, so entering a market price overstates the premium.
QWhat is voluntary continued cover?
A scheme that keeps you on employee-level premiums for up to 36 months after leaving. Property is not counted, so it often works out better for homeowners. You must apply before two months have passed from the due date of your first local-subscriber premium.
QIs there no premium as a dependant?
Registered as a dependant of an employed family member, you pay nothing. Income or property above the thresholds costs you that status and moves you to local-subscriber cover. The thresholds change often, so check with the National Health Insurance Service.
QIs there a cap?
Yes. A local subscriber's monthly health insurance premium is capped at ₩4,591,740 and floored at ₩20,160. Even with no income and no property, the floor is payable.