Implant Health Insurance for Ages 65 and Over in Korea: Eligibility, Number, Copay Rate and Registration

In Korea, a health insurance member or dependent aged 65 or older who still has some teeth in the upper or lower jaw can receive up to 2 implants in their lifetime through National Health Insurance. A regular member pays 30% of the total treatment cost, and before treatment starts the dental clinic must register the patient with the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단). As of 2026, completely edentulous patients with no teeth are excluded, but the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to expand support from January 2027.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Eligibility	Health insurance members or dependents aged 65 or older with partial edentulism (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
Number	2 per person for life (no distinction between upper and lower jaw) (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
Copay rate	Members 30%; near-poverty rare intractable disease 10%, chronic disease 20%; Medical Aid Type 1 10%, Type 2 20% (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
Covered prosthetic materials	PFM crown, zirconia crown (effective February 1, 2025) (source: Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2025-23)
Changes in the age criterion	Age 75 in July 2014, age 70 in July 2015, age 65 in July 2016 (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
Planned expansion to edentulous patients	From January 2027, 2 implants also for people 65+ with no teeth (source: Ministry of Health and Welfare (announced September 8, 2026))

Who can receive implant health insurance in Korea?

People aged 65 or older with partial edentulism, meaning some natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw, are eligible. There is no restriction on site: upper or lower jaw, front teeth or molars.

A jaw with no natural teeth but only an existing implant is also regarded as partial edentulism and is eligible. Conversely, if there is not a single tooth above the gum, the case is classified as one for complete dentures and, as of 2026, is excluded from implant coverage.

If a jaw that already has an insured partial denture loses remaining teeth and needs an implant, coverage can be received. Doing a partial denture and an implant together is also possible.

What is the copay rate for implants?

A regular health insurance member pays 30% of the total treatment cost, with no distinction between inpatient and outpatient. The out-of-pocket cap system does not apply to the implant copay, and even for people eligible for the rare disease special calculation, implants use the 30% rate rather than the special rate.

The total treatment cost is the sum of the procedure fee for each stage and the cost of the fixture and abutment materials. A National Health Insurance Service Q&A document gave the total cost per implant at a dental clinic as about 1.14 million to 1.28 million won in 2018, and fees are adjusted every year.

Regular health insurance members and dependents: 30%
Near-poverty patients with rare intractable diseases: 10%
Near-poverty patients with chronic diseases: 20%
Medical Aid Type 1: 10%, Type 2: 20%

In what cases does implant insurance not apply at all?

The coverage criteria are cases in which a separable fixture and abutment are placed in the jawbone and the prosthesis is made with a PFM crown or a zirconia crown. Outside these conditions, not a part but the entire procedure becomes non-covered.

For bone grafting, sinus lift and custom abutments, only that item is non-covered and the implant procedure remains covered. Knowing which items are entirely non-covered and which are only partially non-covered makes a quote easier to understand.

Placing in a jaw with no teeth at all (as of 2026)
Zygomatic implants fixed long enough to reach the cheekbone
One-piece products in which the fixture and abutment are joined
Overdentures made with gold, PFG or metal crowns or ball-type abutments

How do I register for implant insurance?

After the dental clinic judges eligibility, it applies for patient registration through the Medical Institution Information Portal, or the patient submits an application to a Service branch office, and the Service notifies the registration result. Medical Aid recipients register at the city, county or district office of their home address.

In principle, all 3 stages are completed at the registered clinic. If you move midway for personal reasons such as relocation, coverage for the original registration becomes difficult, and re-registration at the new clinic is possible only when it is not the patient's fault, such as a clinic closing. If the patient cancels the registration, that implant is also counted toward the lifetime number.

What changes for implant insurance from 2027?

Announcing the results of the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee on September 8, 2026, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said that from January 2027 it will support 2 implants through health insurance even for people aged 65 or older who have no teeth in the upper or lower jaw.

Completely edentulous patients who have already received insured complete dentures can be supported 7 years after the date they received the complete dentures. Details such as the copay rate will be fixed by the implementing notice, so check the Service's guidance again at the time of treatment.

Until then, a jaw with no teeth uses the senior denture coverage. People aged 65 or older can have complete dentures made once every 7 years for each of the upper and lower jaw at a 30% copay, so compare with the dental clinic whether to wait for the implant or do dentures first.

Common myths and facts

Myth: After 65, 2 implants are covered every year.

The number is 2 in total for life. They need not all be done in the same year, and may be received at separate times.

Myth: Insured implants can only use a metal-looking crown.

From February 1, 2025, zirconia crowns are covered materials along with PFM crowns.

Myth: Medical Aid recipients are not eligible for implant insurance.

Medical Aid Type 1 pays 10% and Type 2 pays 20%, and registration is done through the city, county or district office.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have the 2 insured implants done at different dental clinics?

Registration is done tooth by tooth within the lifetime limit of 2, so you can receive them at different times and clinics. However, the treatment of one tooth must be completed through all 3 stages at the registered clinic, and since the tooth number is part of the registration, changing the site requires canceling the registration and registering again.

Must the patient register for implant insurance personally?

Usually the dental clinic applies through the Medical Institution Information Portal after the examination and consent to the procedure. The patient can also fill in an application and submit it to a Service branch office in person, by mail or by fax, and Medical Aid recipients register at the city, county or district office.

Does the number decrease if osseointegration fails?

If the procedure is unavoidably stopped on the dentist's medical judgment, it is not counted toward the lifetime number. The fixture placement stage for the same tooth can be redone once after suspension and re-registration. In this case the removal of the failed fixture is not billed separately, and the cost of the new fixture material is recognized as covered.

Can I receive it if I have lived abroad?

You must be a health insurance member or dependent when treatment begins. The dental clinic checks the patient's eligibility and any existing registration before registering, so if you previously had an insured implant at another clinic, that record is also confirmed at this time.

What are the care costs after an insured implant?

For 3 months after the prosthesis is placed, you pay only the consultation fee for checks at the same clinic. After that, prosthesis-related care is non-covered, and treatment of gum disease around the implant is handled under the corresponding covered item.

References

Korean version →