Costs, payment and tax refunds for medical travel in Korea

What decides how much treatment costs?

The price is set by each hospital and varies with what is done and how. Ask the hospital to list every item, because the headline price of a procedure rarely covers everything.

• The procedure itself and how extensive it is for your case
• Tests, anesthesia, medicines and materials
• The number of visits or sessions
• Follow-up visits and aftercare
• Interpretation or coordination services, if charged separately
• Flights, accommodation and local transport, which are never part of the hospital bill

How do you get a reliable estimate?

Ask for it in writing before you travel, and again after the in-person examination. A registered hospital must tell a foreign patient the diagnosis, the treatment method and the possible side effects, and provide a treatment contract that includes the estimated cost.

• What the estimate includes and what it leaves out
• Whether tax is included
• Whether a deposit is needed, and the refund terms if you cancel
• What happens to the price if the plan changes after the doctor examines you
• Which currency and payment methods the hospital accepts

This guide gives no prices. Compare written estimates from more than one hospital rather than figures quoted online.

Is there a tax refund on medical treatment?

Not at present. The VAT refund for foreign tourists on cosmetic surgery and dermatology procedures applied only to services received on or before 31 December 2025, and the law had not been extended as of October 2026. Procedures from 1 January 2026 do not qualify.

If a hospital or facilitator promises a tax refund on treatment, ask them to show the current legal basis. The rule could change again, so check the official source before you rely on any refund.

How do tax-free shopping refunds work?

These refunds apply to goods bought at designated tax-free shops, not to medical services. You need to spend at least KRW 15,000 in one transaction and take the goods out of Korea within 3 months.

Do facilitators add a commission to your bill?

A facilitator is paid a commission by the hospital, and Korean rules cap it. Registered hospitals and facilitators may not demand more than the cap or give false information, and a violation can lead to cancellation of registration.

TripDoc does not take a referral commission from hospitals.

How should you pay and what should you keep?

Pay the hospital directly by a method that leaves a record, and keep all your documents. You may need them for follow-up care, insurance or a complaint.

• Ask in advance which cards the hospital accepts and whether your bank limits large payments abroad.
• Keep the treatment contract, itemized receipts and the consent form.
• Check what your travel insurance covers. Many policies exclude planned treatment.