# What is “non-covered” in Korea’s insurance system?

> In Korea, non-covered care is care listed outside national health insurance benefits, so the patient pays the price the institution sets.

It sits alongside covered care, selectively covered care with higher co-payments and full self-pay cases.

Written by the Korea Non-covered Medical Price Statistics editorial team on October 21, 2026. Canonical address: https://kmedprice.org/articles/what-is-non-covered.

## Which law defines non-covered items?

Annex 2 of the rules on care benefit standards under the National Health Insurance Act.

## What kinds of care are typically non-covered?

Cosmetic care, most preventive care and certain amenities, among others listed in Annex 2.

## What is a selective benefit?

Care covered with a higher co-payment while its cost-effectiveness is assessed.

## Who sets non-covered prices?

Each institution sets its own and must disclose and explain it in advance.

## Can an item move from non-covered to covered?

Yes. Items such as ultrasound and MRI have been brought into coverage for set indications.

## What should you read next?

- [How do you read a Korean medical receipt?](https://kmedprice.org/articles/read-medical-receipt)
- [Why do we show price ranges, not hospital names?](https://kmedprice.org/articles/why-ranges-not-names)
- [Non-covered share of medical spending](https://kmedprice.org/statistics/share-of-spending)
- [Covered or non-covered self-check](https://kmedprice.org/tools/coverage-check)

## Where do these numbers come from?

- [National Health Insurance Act](https://www.law.go.kr/법령/국민건강보험법) - Korea Law Information Center
- [Rules on the Standards for National Health Insurance Care Benefits (Annex 2: non-covered items)](https://www.law.go.kr/법령/국민건강보험요양급여의기준에관한규칙) - Korea Law Information Center
- [Standards for designation and implementation of selective benefits (notice)](https://www.law.go.kr/행정규칙/선별급여지정및실시등에관한기준) - Ministry of Health and Welfare (Korea Law Information Center)