{
  "id": 16423821,
  "title": "Nat'l health insurance fiscal balance for foreigners tops $753 mil. in surplus last year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/natl-health-insurance-fiscal-balance-for-foreigners-tops-753-mil-in",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-25T03:57:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20261025/natl-health-insurance-fiscal-balance-for-foreigners-tops-753-mil-in-surplus-last-year"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea's national health insurance system for foreigners recorded a record-breaking surplus of over $753 million in the fiscal year, marking the first time this balance had exceeded 1 trillion won since 2017. The account for foreign nationals increased from 943.9 billion won in the previous year to 1,012.8 billion won. This surplus was primarily driven by insurance premiums paid by foreign nationals, totaling 2.54 trillion won, compared to medical expenses covered by the NHIS, which amounted to 1.52 trillion won.\n\nHowever, the fiscal balance for Chinese nationals took a turn for the worse, recording a deficit of 40.9 billion won last year. This marked a shift from a surplus of 5.5 billion won in the previous year. Insurance premiums collected from Chinese nationals in 2025 amounted to 956.4 billion won, while the NHIS had to payout 1.52 trillion won for medical expenses, resulting in the deficit.",
  "summary": "The fiscal balance of Korea's national health insurance for foreigners posted a surplus exceeding 1 trillion won ($753 million) for the first time last year, but the account for Chinese nationals swung to a deficit, data showed Sunday. The fiscal balance for foreign nationals came to 1,012.8 trillion won in the black last year, up from 943.9 billion won the previous year, according to data…",
  "key_points": [
    "National health insurance for foreigners recorded $753 million surplus in fiscal year",
    "Insurance premiums from foreigners totaled 2.54 trillion won",
    "Chinese nationals' fiscal balance turned to $40.9 million deficit"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The record surplus in the foreign national health insurance account highlights a growing gap between premium collections and medical payouts, even as Chinese nationals shift into a deficit.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Nat'l health insurance fiscal balance for foreigners tops 1 tln won in surplus last year",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/natl-health-insurance-fiscal-balance-for-foreigners-tops-1-tln-won-in",
        "published": "2026-10-25T03:03:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}