Korea Moves Towards Paperless Health Insurance Claims with Silson24
The Korean government is pushing for a fully digital health insurance claims process,and a major step forward has been taken with the full operational launch of the Silson24 app. Patients visiting local clinics and pharmacies in Korea can now submit private health insurance claims directly through the mobile app, eliminating the need for manual document collection and submission.
This rollout marks the second phase of Korea’s digitalization initiative, following the October 2024 implementation for general hospitals and public health centres. Silson24 allows medical institutions to automatically transmit necessary documents – including bills, receipts, and prescriptions – directly to insurers. Users simply select their visited institution and submit the claim via the app or website.
Accessibility is a key focus,with the app supporting third-party claims,such as those made for children,and catering to those less familiar with smartphones. Participating clinics and pharmacies are easily located through popular map services like Naver and Kakao.
Further streamlining is planned, with Silson24 services becoming available on major platforms like Naver and Toss as early as November. This will allow users to book appointments and file claims within a single, integrated process, removing the need for a separate app download.
However, adoption among smaller clinics is currently low, largely due to reliance on external electronic medical record providers who are reportedly charging high fees for document transmission. Financial authorities are addressing this by offering incentives to encourage wider participation, with an FSC spokesperson stating, “We will continue efforts to improve convenience for consumers.” Ultimately, the goal is a future where no paperwork is required for insurance claims after a clinic visit, contingent on increased cooperation from medical institutions.
