I may be able to get some of the hospital costs I paid back... Check your NHIS “out-of-pocket payment refund”

[Financial News] If you paid more than the standard amount for treatment at a hospital or pharmacy, you may be able to get some of it refunded. This is through the “out-of-pocket payment refund” program for excess medical charges run by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).
According to NHIS on the 11th, the out-of-pocket payment refund is a program under which NHIS refunds the excess if a review by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) of medical expenses claimed by healthcare providers, including hospitals and pharmacies, finds that the amount paid by the patient exceeded the standard.
Each month, NHIS sends eligible recipients details of their refunds and payment application forms electronically or by mail. Even if you have not received a notice, you can check directly whether you are eligible on the NHIS website or mobile app.
You can check and apply for a refund through the NHIS website menu “Civil Services → Find a Service → Check and Apply for Out-of-Pocket Payment Refund.” In the mobile app, follow “All Menus → Health Insurance → Refunds → Check and Apply for Refunds (Subsidies).” You can also apply by mail, by visiting an NHIS branch, or through the customer service center.
The refund is paid the day after the NHIS branch completes its review following receipt of the payment application. Payment may take up to 7 days. However, you must apply within 3 years of the date the initial refund notice was sent, so if you receive a notice, it is important not to miss the deadline.
You should also watch out for text messages impersonating refund application notices. NHIS does not send refund application instructions by text message with an internet address (URL). Do not open messages from unclear senders or containing suspicious links; delete them instead.
An NHIS official urged people to “be especially cautious of text messages impersonating refund notices.”

[email protected] Jung Sang-hee Reporter