Quick Answer
If I am 65 or older, can I use NHI coverage for dental implants?
Yes. If you are an NHI subscriber or dependent aged 65 or older and still have some natural teeth, you pay only 30% of the covered treatment cost for up to 2 implants per lifetime. Completely edentulous patients (those with no teeth at all) are not currently eligible. Crowns are covered for PFM and, since February 2025, for zirconia as well. Bone grafts and sinus lifts are not covered, so if needed they are added as non-covered items. Expanded coverage of 2 implants for completely edentulous patients is scheduled to begin in January 2027, and existing users of covered complete dentures become eligible only after 7 years have passed since receiving that benefit.
What is the patient copayment rate for NHI implants at age 65 and older?
The copayment rate is 30% under National Health Insurance (NHI), 10% for Medical Aid Type 1 and 20% for Type 2, and 10–20% for near-poverty patients eligible for reduced copayments. On the same jaw, an NHI-covered implant and an NHI-covered partial denture can be used together.
In what cases does the cost differ even with an NHI-covered implant?
If a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, that part is added as a non-covered item. If a crown other than PFM or zirconia, or a one-piece implant, is used, the entire implant procedure becomes non-covered. For a custom abutment, only the abutment material is non-covered.
How do I register for an NHI implant?
After eligibility is confirmed, you register, and treatment proceeds through the diagnosis, placement, and prosthesis stages. The clinic submits the NHI registration application on your behalf; for Medical Aid, we explain the registration procedure of the responsible benefit authority.
How does Yeonhap Dental Clinic guide patients through NHI implants?
At the first consultation, Yeonhap Dental Clinic checks how many covered implants you have already used and how many remain, and explains covered and non-covered items separately. When several teeth are missing, we also look at your remaining teeth and your future prosthetic plan. You can find detailed conditions in the NHI implant guide.
References
National Health Insurance Service (NHIS): Guide to Covered Dental Implants Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2025-23: Dental Implant Coverage Criteria (posted by HIRA) Ministry of Health and Welfare press release: copayment for dental implants for ages 65 and older reduced from 50% to 30% Ministry of Health and Welfare: results of the September 8, 2026 Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee (expanded dental coverage)
Related Implant Consultation Pages
Before Your Visit
This article is general guidance for implant consultations. Whether treatment is possible and the actual cost may change after an oral examination and 3D CBCT diagnosis. If you have discomfort such as pain, swelling, or looseness, please come in for a consultation so we can check.