{
  "id": 12103369,
  "title": "Delinquent health insurance premiums owed by foreigners total $27.9 mil.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/delinquent-health-insurance-premiums-owed-by-foreigners-total-27-9-mil-12103369",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-05T08:07:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20261005/delinquent-health-insurance-premiums-owed-by-foreigners-total-279-mil"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Delinquent health insurance premiums owed by foreigners and overseas Koreans totaled 37.5 billion won, or $27.9 million, as of the end of 2025, according to a government report released on Monday. The National Assembly Budget Office revealed that unpaid premiums had increased by 42% from 26.4 billion won in 2021. Additionally, the number of delinquent households had surged 58.1% from 21,728 to 34,349 over the same period. Foreign nationals were primarily responsible for the delinquent households, with 33,725 owing a total of 34.4 billion won. Over the past five years, 134,505 cases amounting to 47.7 billion won have been deemed uncollectible. While health insurance benefits are suspended for insured individuals while they are abroad, some foreign workers have reportedly neglected to return their foreigner registration cards and health insurance eligibility upon returning to or traveling through Korea, allowing those remaining in the country to use their identities to receive medical treatment.",
  "summary": "Delinquent premiums owed by foreigners and overseas Koreans enrolled in Korea's state health insurance system totaled 37.5 billion won ($27.9 million) as of the end of 2025, a government report showed Monday. According to the National Assembly Budget Office report, unpaid premiums rose 42 percent from 26.4 billion won in 2021, while the number of delinquent households jumped 58.1 percent from…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Delinquent health insurance premiums owed by foreigners total $27.9 mil.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/delinquent-health-insurance-premiums-owed-by-foreigners-total-27-9-mil",
        "published": "2026-10-05T07:32:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}