Korea is known as a medical tourism destination?
Korea is known as a medical tourism destination. As a foreigner already living here, how can I take advantage of the affordable, high-quality medical procedures Korea is famous for? What should I know about costs, quality, and the process?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Living here you are actually in a better position than a visiting medical tourist, because if you have National Health Insurance many treatments are already heavily subsidized. For routine and necessary care, NHIS covers doctor visits, hospital stays, and many procedures at a fraction of the cost elsewhere, so a specialist consultation might run 10,000 to 20,000 won, and covered scans and treatments are far cheaper than in many countries. Where Korea's famous affordability really shows is in elective areas not covered by insurance, like dermatology, cosmetic dental work, laser eye surgery, and plastic surgery, which you pay out of pocket but at competitive prices and high quality; skin treatments and dental crowns are popular with residents precisely because they are reasonable here.
For quality and process, the large university hospitals in Seoul, including the well-known big five like Samsung Medical Center, Asan, Severance, Seoul National University Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary's, have international healthcare centers with English-speaking coordinators and offer phone or online booking for foreigners. For elective clinics, do your homework, read reviews, and get a couple of consultations before committing, and be a little cautious with the most heavily marketed cosmetic clinics in areas like Gangnam, since quality varies. Ask for example cases and a clear itemized quote upfront. Bring your ARC and insurance card, and remember that non-covered elective work is quoted before you start. For anything major, a second opinion is easy to get here and well worth it.