filial piety: the easiest way to register your parents as dependents on your health

Table of Contents

filial piety: the easiest way to register your parents as dependents on your health insurance – a step-by-step guide

What is a Health Insurance Dependent and Why is it Necessary?
Key Dependent Eligibility Criteria: Checking the Income and Property Standards
- Income Standard: Who is Recognized as ‘Financially Independent’?
- Property Standard: The Barrier of Wealth
The Easiest and Fastest Way to Register: Online, by Mail, and In-person
- Online Registration via the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) Website
- Registration by Mail or Fax: For Those Unfamiliar with Online Methods
- In-person Registration at the NHIC Branch Office: Immediate Assistance
Required Documents for Dependent Registration: What to Prepare
- Basic Document: Dependent Registration/Change Application
- Documents Confirming Family Relationship and Income
- Additional Documents for Specific Situations (Property, Overseas Stay, etc.)
What Happens After Registration: Dependent Status Acquisition and Confirmation
- The Dependent Status Examination Process
- How to Check the Final Registration Result
Important Considerations and Dependent Status Loss

1. What is a Health Insurance Dependent and Why is it Necessary?

A Health Insurance Dependent refers to a person who is primarily supported by the main policyholder (the employee/local policyholder) and does not have their own health insurance contributions. In simple terms, it means receiving health insurance benefits without paying separate premiums. Registering a parent as a dependent not only eases the burden on the parent but also provides substantial family-wide health benefits. For parents, who are often financially vulnerable and have increasing medical needs due to aging, dependent registration is one of the most effective ways to realize filial piety.

The key to dependent registration is that the parent must be financially dependent on the policyholder. This is the reason why the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) strictly reviews income and property criteria.

2. Key Dependent Eligibility Criteria: Checking the Income and Property Standards

The standard for dependent registration is primarily divided into two major conditions: Relationship/Support and Financial Conditions (Income and Property). The parent must first be an eligible family member (e.g., direct ascendant) and must meet all the strict financial criteria set by the NHIC.

Income Standard: Who is Recognized as ‘Financially Independent’?

The income standard is the most important factor in determining financial independence.

Total Annual Income Standard: The parent’s total annual income must be less than 20 million won. ‘Total annual income’ here is the sum of various types of income (interest, dividend, business, labor, pension, other income, etc.) defined by the Income Tax Act.
Business and Other Income Standard: For parents engaged in business, their business income must be less than 500 million won (however, if business income is zero, they must be registered as a non-business entity). In particular, if the total annual income exceeds 20 million won, registration is completely impossible. If business income is zero, even if total income is less than 20 million won, they must still meet the property standard.
The Special Rule of Pension Income: The NHIC’s dependent examination takes into account all types of public and private pensions. If the pension income alone is already high, it may exceed the total annual income standard of 20 million won.

Property Standard: The Barrier of Wealth

Even if the income standard is met, if the parent owns significant property, they may not be eligible for dependent status. The NHIC judges that owning a certain level of property indicates the ability to be financially independent.

Taxable Property Standard: The parent’s property tax base amount must be less than 540 million won. The property tax base amount is generally about 60% of the market price.
The Strict Property Rule: If the property tax base amount is between 540 million won and 900 million won, they can only be registered as a dependent if the total annual income is less than 10 million won.
The Unconditional Ineligibility Rule: If the property tax base amount is 900 million won or more, dependent registration is impossible regardless of the income amount. This is the standard for high wealth.
Special Cases for Leased Property: The deposit amount for leased properties (Jeonse, monthly rent) is also added to the property tax base amount after calculating a certain ratio.

3. The Easiest and Fastest Way to Register: Online, by Mail, and In-person

Once the parent is confirmed to meet the strict eligibility criteria, you can proceed with the registration. The NHIC provides several simple registration methods.

Online Registration via the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) Website

This is the fastest and most preferred method for those familiar with online administrative work.

Access the NHIC Website: Search for the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) website and log in using a joint certificate (formerly accredited certificate).
Navigate the Menu: Select “Minwon Yoin” $\rightarrow$ “Personal Minwon (Minwon Application)” $\rightarrow$ “Dependent Registration/Change Application.”
Enter Information and Apply: Enter the required information, such as the dependent’s resident registration number and relationship, and submit the application. In most cases, documents confirming income and property are automatically checked by the system, but you may need to upload documents confirming the family relationship (e.g., Family Relationship Certificate).
Confirm Submission: After application, you can check the progress of the examination.

Registration by Mail or Fax: For Those Unfamiliar with Online Methods

This is the best method for those who find online submission difficult or for situations that require submitting many paper documents.

Prepare the Application Form: Download the “Dependent Registration/Change Application” form from the NHIC website or obtain it from a branch office.
Prepare Documents: Prepare the necessary documents such as the application form, Family Relationship Certificate, etc. (refer to section 4).
Send: Send the prepared documents by mail or fax to the nearest NHIC branch office or the policyholder’s workplace branch office. Fax submission is quick, but the document quality must be clear.

In-person Registration at the NHIC Branch Office: Immediate Assistance

If you have complex questions or need immediate assistance, visiting the branch office is the clearest method.

Visit: Visit the nearest NHIC branch office with the required documents.
Consultation and Submission: Receive consultation from a NHIC staff member, complete the application form, and submit the documents. In-person registration allows for immediate feedback on missing documents.

4. Required Documents for Dependent Registration: What to Prepare

Preparing the correct documents reduces the risk of rejection and speeds up the process. The required documents vary depending on the relationship, income source, and whether the parent is residing overseas.

Basic Document: Dependent Registration/Change Application

This is the mandatory form that includes the policyholder’s and dependent’s information and the application details.

Documents Confirming Family Relationship and Income

Family Relationship Certificate: A certificate issued by the policyholder (detailed) is generally required to confirm the relationship with the parent.
Residence and Foreign Documents: If the parent is a non-resident in Korea (overseas stay, etc.), documents proving their entry and exit records or foreign residence are required.

Additional Documents for Specific Situations (Property, Overseas Stay, etc.)

In cases where the policyholder is an employment-based policyholder and the dependent’s income or property is not automatically checkable through the system (e.g., foreign income, special property), the NHIC may request additional documents such as:

Income Proof: Proof of income for business or other income sources (e.g., proof of non-filing of income tax, proof of income amount).
Proof of Overseas Residence: If the parent is overseas, documents proving that the policyholder is financially supporting them (e.g., money transfer details).

5. What Happens After Registration: Dependent Status Acquisition and Confirmation

The application process is completed once the required documents are submitted. However, the final dependent status is only acquired after the NHIC completes its review.

The Dependent Status Examination Process

Document and System Check: The NHIC reviews the submitted documents and automatically checks the dependent’s income and property information through its system.
Notification of Additional Documents: If there are missing documents or unclear information, the NHIC may contact the policyholder to request additional documents.
Final Approval/Rejection: The status is granted only after confirming that all criteria are met. The process generally takes 7 to 10 days, but may be extended depending on the complexity of the case.

How to Check the Final Registration Result

Online Check: The policyholder can check the result in the “Minwon Yoin” $\rightarrow$ “Minwon Processing Status” menu on the NHIC website.
Phone Inquiry: Inquire by calling the NHIC’s customer center (1577-1000).
Notification: The NHIC sends a final result notification to the policyholder’s address or mobile phone.

6. Important Considerations and Dependent Status Loss

Dependent registration is not permanent. If the dependent’s status changes, the policyholder must report it, and the NHIC regularly reviews the status.

Regular Review (Annual Review): The NHIC conducts an annual total income review in November of each year. If the dependent’s income suddenly increases and exceeds the standard of 20 million won, the dependent status may be revoked retroactively.
Obligation to Report Loss of Dependent Status: If the parent starts a business, receives a high-value retirement allowance, or acquires significant property, the policyholder must report the loss of dependent status within 14 days. Failure to report can result in a retroactive collection of insurance premiums that should have been paid.
Date of Effect of Registration: Dependent status is generally effective from the date of the event (e.g., the date of employment change, the date of acquiring a dependent) if the application is made within 90 days. If the application is made after 90 days, it is effective from the date of application.

Registering a parent as a health insurance dependent is a practical act of filial piety that guarantees their right to health. By carefully checking the complex income and property criteria and submitting the documents using the easy methods described above, anyone can easily register their parents as dependents.