Using Hospitals
When sick, start at a nearby clinic, then go to a hospital/specialist if needed. With health insurance, costs drop a lot. Get a doctor’s prescription and buy medicine at a pharmacy. Some hospitals and call centers (1345, 1577-1366) offer interpretation. For full insurance benefits at big hospitals, you usually need a referral.
Based on official sources · verify before deciding· as of 2026-06-09
What to bring
- Health insurance card or ARC/ID
- Treatment fee (your share after insurance)
- (Big hospitals) a referral from a primary clinic
- (If needed) ask about interpretation in advance
Step by step
- 1For minor symptoms, start at a local clinic
- 2If needed, get a referral and see a hospital/specialist
- 3Buy medicine at a pharmacy with the prescription
- 4Keep receipts — medical costs can be deducted at year-end settlement
Tips
- ⚠️ For emergencies (life-threatening/severe), call ☎119 — it handles ambulances, medical advice, and hospital info (old 1339 is merged into 119).
- For medical interpretation/hospital info, the Immigration Center ☎1345 and Danuri ☎1577-1366 can help.
- Care without insurance costs much more — enroll if you’re eligible.
- Take medicine exactly as prescribed; don’t self-medicate with antibiotics, etc.
Key contacts
- Emergency/ambulance/medical info ☎119
- Immigration Contact Center ☎1345 (multilingual)
- Danuri Call Center ☎1577-1366 (24h)
Related guides
This is general guidance and may change over time. Always verify the latest details with the official source before applying.
Last updated: 2026-06-09