The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) will run an intensive payment period for health insurance premium refunds until November 30. The move is intended to allow citizens who have refunds due but have not yet received them to check whether they are eligible and get their money back.

The NHIS, headed by President Kang Chung-hee, announced that it will operate the intensive refund payment period for two months from October 1 to November 30.

■ When refunds occur

A health insurance premium refund occurs when a subscriber has paid more in premiums than the amount they were required to pay. Typical cases include duplicate payments or payments made in error.

Refunds may also arise in the process of recalculating previously imposed premiums when a subscriber's status or income changes. Therefore, even subscribers who have paid their health insurance premiums normally may be eligible for a refund due to reasons such as premium reassessment.

■ How to check and apply for refunds

Eligibility for a refund can be confirmed on the NHIS website or mobile app. When a refund occurs, the NHIS notifies eligible individuals through various channels, including mail, its website, mobile app, and the Government24 national secretary service. However, even those who have not received a separate notification are advised to check directly if they are curious about whether a refund has occurred.

Refund inquiries and applications can be made through the NHIS website or mobile app. Those who have difficulty using online services can contact the NHIS call center (1577-1000) or visit a nearby NHIS branch office.

■ 'Advance account consent' system for receiving refunds without a separate application

There is also a way to receive future refunds without a separate application process: the NHIS's 'health insurance premium refund advance account consent' system. If a subscriber registers in advance the account into which refunds should be paid, they can receive any future refunds in that account without having to apply separately.

Advance account consent can be registered by visiting an NHIS branch office or through the call center.

■ "Refund notification texts and emails containing URLs are suspected fraud"

The NHIS urged particular caution regarding text message and email scams that exploit refund notifications. According to the NHIS, text messages or emails notifying health insurance premium refunds do not contain URLs (internet addresses). Therefore, people should be wary if they receive a message or email urging them to click a URL under the pretext of a refund payment, or if the sender is unclear. It is safest to immediately delete suspicious messages or emails and check refund eligibility directly through the official NHIS website or mobile app.

An NHIS official asked people to make sure to check via the NHIS website or mobile app whether they have any unclaimed refunds, and stressed that people should pay attention to protecting personal information and preventing financial fraud, for example by deleting messages and emails from unclear or suspicious senders.

Meanwhile, this intensive payment period is also meaningful in that it can serve as an opportunity for subscribers to review their premium payment history and check whether they have any money to be returned. Although health insurance premiums are social insurance contributions paid regularly, premiums can be adjusted after payment due to changes in status or income, and refunds generated in this process are amounts that subscribers deserve to receive.

In particular, it is necessary to distinguish that premium refunds are not benefits paid uniformly to all subscribers, but amounts paid only to those for whom an actual reason for refund has arisen. Since refund eligibility differs for each subscriber, those wishing to confirm whether they are actually eligible must use the NHIS's official inquiry process.

[This article was written based on the NHIS's announcement of the intensive refund payment period. Refund eligibility and amounts may vary depending on each individual's payment history and changes in eligibility status. Refund inquiries and applications must be made through the NHIS's official channels. AI assistance was used in writing this article.]