National Health Insurance Service eases threshold for workplace subscribers to split settlement premiums

[123RF]
[123RF]

The National Health Insurance Service announced Thursday that it will significantly ease the criteria for workplace subscribers to pay additional settlement premiums in installments, effective Oct. 1.

The installment payment system was established to reduce the financial burden on workplace subscribers who incur additional premium charges through year-end adjustments.

Under the previous rules, installment payments were only available when the settlement premium equaled or exceeded the subscriber's own monthly premium. Starting Thursday, subscribers can split payments into up to 12 installments as long as the settlement amount reaches the minimum premium threshold — 10,080 won ($7) based on the subscriber's share in 2026.

For example, a workplace subscriber paying a monthly premium of 150,000 won who incurs a settlement premium of 140,000 won would previously have been ineligible for installment payments. Under the new rules, that subscriber can spread the amount over up to 12 months.

The change applies to settlement premiums from the October billing cycle onward and will also cover year-end adjustment premiums for the 2026 income year that workplace subscribers will be billed in April next year.

Installment payment requests must be submitted by the business operator through the health insurance electronic data interchange system, fax, mail or in-person visit, no later than the monthly premium payment deadline — or two days before the deadline for businesses enrolled in automatic transfer.

"We will continue to actively gather feedback from the field and improve the system to enhance public convenience as part of our efforts to deliver meaningful service innovation," said Seo Gyeong-suk, standing executive director of collection at the National Health Insurance Service.


thlee@heraldcorp.com