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Insurance Claim Documents for Foreign Patients at Our Gangnam, Seoul ENT Clinic

🌍 Welcoming patients from around the world · Consultations in English with Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, MD, former professor at Yonsei & Ajou University

How payment and claims work in Korea

Korean outpatient clinics generally expect payment at the reception desk at the end of each visit. Unless you are enrolled in Korea's National Health Insurance, you pay the full fee. Gangnam Yonsei ENT does not have direct billing arrangements with foreign or international insurers, so the usual process is pay first, then claim reimbursement from your insurer using the documents below. Our English-speaking ENT guide explains the rest of the visit.

The core documents

1. Itemized receipt

An itemized receipt lists each service, such as consultation, endoscopy or a hearing test, with its amount. Most insurers will not accept a simple card slip. Amounts are shown in Korean won; your insurer converts using its own exchange rate, so keep your card statement too.

2. English medical certificate

An English medical certificate (영문 진단서) is a document signed by the doctor stating your diagnosis, the date of your visit and the treatment given. The clinic can issue one on request. Certificates are a non-covered item, so there may be a separate fee; ask at the desk.

3. Copies of medical records and test results

Some insurers, especially for higher-cost care or surgery, ask for chart notes, test results or imaging. You can request copies of your records, such as audiograms from a hearing test or reports from a sinus CT scan.

4. Pharmacy receipts

Medicines are dispensed by a separate pharmacy, so the clinic receipt does not include them. Ask the pharmacy for its own receipt. See our prescriptions and pharmacies guide.

Step by step: making a claim

1. Before treatment, read your policy. Many travel policies require you to call an assistance line before non-emergency care or surgery.
2. At the clinic, tell reception at check-in that you need documents for an insurance claim, so they can be prepared while you wait.
3. Bring any insurer form that must be completed by the treating doctor, and ask whether it can be filled in.
4. Check details before leaving: your name exactly as on your passport, date of birth and dates of service.
5. Photograph or scan every document right away.
6. Submit the claim promptly; many insurers have deadlines.

Planned surgery: extra steps

If Dr. Kim recommends a procedure such as septoplasty or endoscopic sinus surgery, ask your insurer whether it needs pre-authorization. You may need a letter explaining the diagnosis and why surgery is recommended. Allow time for the insurer to respond before the surgery date.

Who signs your documents

Certificates are issued by Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, a board-certified otolaryngologist and former clinical assistant professor at Yonsei University and assistant professor at Ajou University School of Medicine. He consults in English and can explain your diagnosis so you can describe it accurately on claim forms.

Common reasons claims are delayed

• Name spelled differently from the passport
• Missing diagnosis on the certificate
• Only a card slip instead of an itemized receipt
• Missing pharmacy receipts
• Translation required by the insurer but not provided

Country-specific notes are on pages such as patients from the USA. Contact the clinic through our contact page, or browse the International Patients hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does the clinic bill my insurance company directly?

No. Gangnam Yonsei ENT does not have direct billing arrangements with foreign or international insurers. You pay at the desk after your visit and then claim reimbursement from your insurer using the itemized receipt, English medical certificate and any record copies they require.

Can the doctor fill in my insurer's claim form?

Bring the form to your visit and ask at reception. The clinic can provide an English medical certificate, itemized receipts and copies of records, which many insurers accept. If your insurer requires its own form completed by the doctor, ask whether this can be arranged.

Is there a fee for an English medical certificate?

Medical certificates are a non-covered item in Korea, so a separate fee may apply. Ask the front desk about the current fee when you request one. Itemized receipts are routinely provided with payment.

General information for international patients, reviewed by an ENT specialist. Insurance coverage and claim rules depend on your own insurer — please check with them. In an emergency in Korea, call 119.