ENGLISH

- A self-employed insured who wishes to apply for the payment of medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth must submit an application to the NHIS in which an obstetrician or a maternity nurse under Article 6 of the “Medical Act” has confirmed the pregnancy and childbirth. In this case, only an obstetrician is qualified to confirm pregnancy (Article 50 of the “National Health Insurance Act”, Article 23 (1) of the “Enforcement Decree of the National Health Insurance Act”, and Article 24 (1) of the “Enforcement Rule of the National Health Insurance Act”).

- A pregnant woman or the legal representative of an infant who is less than two years old (hereinafter referred to as a “Pregnant Woman, Etc.”) seeking to apply for coverage of medical expenses associated with pregnancy and delivery must submit an application for coverage of pregnancy/delivery by health insurance to the Service, a financial institution, or an appropriate government office (Article 23(4) of the Enforcement Decree of the National Health Insurance Act, Article 24(1) and subparagraph 1 of Article 64(3) of the Enforcement Regulations of the National Health Insurance Act, and Article 3(1) and subparagraph 1 of the Attached Table 1 of the Standards for the Payment of the Treatment for Pregnancy and Childbirth, Etc.).

- “Voucher” refers to a certificate provided as a credit card or debit card by electronically recording the amount to ensure that the costs associated with the treatment of pregnant women and infants less than two years of age, and the purchase of medicines and treatment materials are paid (subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Standards for the Payment of the Treatment for Pregnancy and Childbirth, Etc.).

- If an application has been filed by a pregnant self-employed insured, the NHIS must issue a voucher (National Happiness Card) to the applicant after verifying the applicant's eligibility as a self-employed insured and her pregnancy or childbirth (Article 23 (5) of the “Enforcement Decree of the National Health Insurance Act”).

- The upper limit on the amount payable with the voucher (National Happiness Card) is as follows. However, if the requirements under Article 5(1) of the Standards for the Payment of the Treatment for Pregnancy and Childbirth, Etc. are fully satisfied, the following upper limit may be exceeded (Article 23(7) of the Enforcement Decree of the National Health Insurance Act):

- A self-employed insured who is pregnant or has given birth must present the voucher (National Happiness Card) to a health care institution to receive medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth when receiving medical treatment related to pregnancy and childbirth (Article 24 (2) of the “Enforcement Rule of the National Health Insurance Act”).

- The issued voucher will be available for use until two years pass from the date of childbirth by the employee insured who has been pregnant or given birth or her dependent (for miscarriage or stillbirth, the relevant date) or from the date of childbirth an infant age less than two years (Article 23(6) of the Enforcement Decree of the National Health Insurance Act).