What is NHIS & How Dental Benefits Fit In

The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) is Korea’s universal health-insurance system covering disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for all registered residents.
Dental services are included in the scheme—but not all dental treatments. Some procedures receive full or partial insurance coverage; others are classified as elective and fall outside the standard insurance benefits.

What Dental Treatments Are Covered

Routine & Preventive Care

• Dental sealants for children: The NHIS expanded cover for first-molar sealants (ages 6-14) since December 2009, second molars in 2012, and extended to under-18 in 2013.
• Basic treatments such as simple extractions, some periodontal (gum) treatments, diagnosis X‐rays are often covered under NHIS.

Prosthetics & Advanced Services (Age-Restricted)

• For older adults, prosthetic services such as complete dentures and removable partial dentures have been included under NHIS since July 2012, with dental implants added July 2014—with age eligibility gradually lowered to 65 years.
• Insurance coverage for dentures/implants came with out-of-pocket reductions for older adults.

What Dental Treatments Are Not Fully Covered

• Cosmetic dentistry (e.g., teeth whitening, premium veneers) is typically not covered by NHIS.
• Many “premium” materials (high-end crowns, implants beyond age-eligible groups or additional units) are often out-of-pocket or only partially covered.
• Even for covered services, co-payments apply (you’ll pay a percentage of the cost) and some treatments may have restrictions (e.g., number of implants, age limits) for the covered portion.

Who Is Eligible & Important Conditions

• All Korean citizens and registered foreign residents (under NHIS) are eligible for standard coverage. Foreign residents have the same coverage under NHIS as citizens.
• Age or material restrictions may apply for certain services (e.g., implants only approved for older adults above a certain age when NHIS benefit was introduced).
• The type of dental treatment, your dental health status, and clinic classification will determine whether you receive “covered benefit” vs “non-covered”.

How to Use Your Dental Benefits in Korea

1. Go to a dental clinic (치과) that accepts NHIS—most local clinics do.
2. Check in with your NHIS card / registration and confirm what part of treatment is covered and what portion you will pay.
3. Ask clearly: Is this procedure “급여” (covered) or “비급여” (non-covered)?”
4. Review the receipt and breakdown of treatment costs so you understand your out-of-pocket amount.
5. If you are a foreign resident, ensure your NHIS enrollment is current and that the clinic accommodates foreign-patient billing if needed.

Practical Tips & Things to Know

• Always ask for an itemized estimate before treatment showing what’s covered under NHIS and what is not.
• Don’t assume all treatments are fully covered—check each procedure (especially fillings, crowns, implants).
• Be aware that even covered services often require a co-payment from the patient.
• If you are older (65+), you may access expanded benefits for prosthetic dental services like dentures and implants — but check age limits and conditions.
• If you are a foreign resident, keep your NHIS registration, contributions paid, and ARC/residence status up to date to maintain eligibility.
• For purely cosmetic treatments, plan for full out-of-pocket payment—they may not fall under NHIS benefits.

Final Thoughts

The NHIS dental benefits in Korea are valuable: they cover preventive care, many basic dental treatments, and in specific age groups, prosthetic services. However, the coverage is not all-encompassing — cosmetic dentistry, premium materials and some advanced services often fall outside.

By clearly understanding which treatments are covered, which are not, and what you’ll be paying, you’ll be in a strong position when visiting a dental clinic in Korea.