The 2027 health insurance premium rate has been set at 7.19%, the same as in 2026. The per-point amount for the property insurance levy applied to calculating health insurance premiums for local subscribers will also remain at 211.5 won, the same as this year. However, this is a decision on premium calculation standards and does not mean that the health insurance premiums actually paid by each individual subscriber are all frozen.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that at the 15th Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee meeting of 2026, held on September 8, it passed resolutions on the '2027 Health Insurance Premium Rate Decision' and the 'First-Stage Health Insurance Coverage Innovation Plan.'

Premium Rate Frozen at 7.19%... Separate from Individual Payment Amounts

Under this decision, the health insurance premium rate applied to workplace subscribers remains at 7.19%. The per-point amount for the property insurance levy for local subscribers was set at 211.5 won.

The per-point amount for the property insurance levy is the standard used to calculate the health insurance premium imposed on local subscribers' property. The 211.5 won figure does not refer to the monthly health insurance premium itself paid by local subscribers. Local subscribers' health insurance premiums are calculated according to assessment factors defined by law, such as income and property, so even if the per-point amount is maintained, actual premiums paid may change if an individual subscriber's income or property changes.

Background of the Freeze: Five Consecutive Years of Surplus and 30.2 Trillion Won in Reserves

The health insurance financial situation was reflected in the premium rate freeze. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the health insurance current balance has maintained a surplus for the past five years. As of the end of 2025, the health insurance reserve stood at 30.2 trillion won, equivalent to about 3.5 months of spending. This is the reserve balance at that point in time, distinct from the surplus generated during a single year.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare explained that it took into account an increase of about 1.1 trillion won in government support for 2027. Expectations of increased premium revenue due to the recent boom in the semiconductor industry were also reflected in the premium rate decision process. The government also comprehensively reviewed expenditures needed to strengthen regional, essential, and public healthcare and to pursue the health insurance coverage innovation plan.

Copayment Rate for Rare and Severe Intractable Disease Patients Lowered in Stages from 10% to 7% to 5%

At the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee meeting, separately from the premium rate decision, the First-Stage Health Insurance Coverage Innovation Plan was also passed. The Ministry of Health and Welfare estimated that through this coverage expansion, about 1.97 million people, including patients with severe and rare intractable diseases, will benefit, with support of up to 800 billion won annually. This is the coverage expansion scale presented by the government and does not refer to individual support amounts.

Specifically, the plan includes lowering the copayment rate for covered medical expenses of patients with rare and severe intractable diseases from the current 10% to 7%, and eventually to 5% in stages. For patients with severe diabetes, coverage will be expanded to support insulin pumps and similar devices regardless of diabetes type. Strengthened support for patients with diabetic complications and neurogenic bladder, as well as expanded dental coverage for seniors, children, and adolescents, will also be pursued.

Coverage Strengthening Policies to Continue Through Spending Efficiency Improvements

The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated it will identify and pursue spending efficiency measures to ensure health insurance premiums are used effectively for necessary medical services. Through this, it plans to continue policies that strengthen regional, essential, and public healthcare and ease the medical cost burden on patients with rare and severe intractable diseases.

[Actual health insurance premium payments may vary depending on each subscriber's assessment factors. The availability and scope of medical cost support are subject to the application criteria of each program. This article was written with the assistance of AI.]