Payments · Exchange Rates · Insurance
Paying for Surgery at Evita Clinic and Using Your Insurance
International surgery payment and insurance at Evita Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul works on a simple basis: every surgical fee is set in Korean won (KRW). Patients can pay in KRW or major foreign currency cash, by international credit or debit card, or by bank transfer before arrival. Our English coordinator also prepares the medical documents most insurers ask for when you submit a claim.
Estimates in USD are available on request, but the amount you pay is always confirmed in KRW on the day of payment.
Questions about a quote, VAT or an insurance claim? Message us on WhatsApp or send an email. Replies are sent during Korea business hours (KST).
- Fee currencyAll fees set in KRW
- Cash acceptedUSD, JPY, GBP, AUD, EUR and more
- CardsAlways charged in KRW
- TransfersWire or Wise — no PayPal
Payment at a Glance
Evita Clinic quotes every procedure in Korean won. You can settle the balance in cash (KRW or major foreign currency), with an international credit or debit card that is charged in KRW, or by international wire transfer or Wise before you travel. Payment is completed before surgery, and instalment plans after surgery are not offered. Medical treatment is normally exempt from VAT in Korea, while some aesthetic procedures are taxable — any VAT that applies is itemised and explained before you pay.
Accepted Payment Methods
Three payment routes are available to international patients. The total surgical fee is identical whichever one you choose — there is no cash discount and no card surcharge.
Cash — KRW or Foreign Currency
KRW, USD, JPY, GBP, AUD, EUR and other major currencies
Foreign banknotes are converted at the cash buying rate published by a major Korean commercial bank on the day you pay, for the specific currency you hand over. Please tell us in advance if you plan to pay in a currency other than USD.
Credit and Debit Cards
Processed in KRW only · major international cards
Your card issuer decides the exchange rate and any overseas transaction fee; the clinic cannot adjust either. Confirm your overseas usage authorisation and daily limit with your bank before surgery day so the payment is not declined or delayed.
Bank Transfer and Wise
International wire in USD or KRW · Wise accepted
Contact us for the clinic’s official bank details before sending funds, and allow enough time for the transfer to clear before your surgery date. PayPal is not accepted because of its transaction fees.
Currency and Exchange Rate Policy
Surgical fees are established and managed in Korean won. When a price is shown in USD it is a courtesy estimate only, so the KRW figure on your invoice is the one that counts.
If you pay in foreign cash, the rate applied is the cash buying rate (KRW per unit of your currency) announced by a major Korean commercial bank on the date of payment. Because rates move daily, the final payable amount is confirmed on the day you pay rather than at the time of your quote.
How Your Rate Is Set
The bank’s cash buying rate on the payment date is used, matched to the exact currency you pay with. Card payments are charged in KRW, so the conversion is handled by your issuer at its own rate.
Reference Calculator
You can estimate your cost in your own currency with any public converter. Rates shown on external sites are indicative only and are not the rate the clinic applies.
Before Surgery Day: Card Checklist
Declined cards are the most common payment problem for international patients, and they are easy to avoid. A week before your procedure, ask your bank to confirm the following:
- Your card is authorised for overseas use in South Korea.
- Your single-transaction limit is high enough for the full surgical fee.
- Your daily spending limit covers the amount, or can be raised temporarily.
- You know your issuer’s overseas transaction fee, which is added by the bank and not by the clinic.
If a limit cannot be raised in time, an international wire transfer or Wise payment sent ahead of your visit is the simplest alternative.
VAT on Surgery in Korea
Under Korean tax law, medical services are generally exempt from Value Added Tax. Certain aesthetic or non-essential procedures are taxable, so whether VAT is added depends on the medical classification and purpose of your procedure rather than on the clinic’s policy.
Usually Subject to VAT
Aesthetic procedures that are taxable under current regulations:
- Liposuction
- Body lifting procedures
- Cosmetic breast surgery — augmentation, reduction and mastopexy
Generally VAT-Exempt
Treatments normally classified as medical care:
- Gynecomastia surgery
- Top surgery (FTM / MTF chest surgery)
- Varicose vein treatment
- IV therapy (medical infusion treatment)
- Medical prescriptions and consultations
If VAT applies to your procedure it is listed as a separate line on your estimate and explained before payment. Every final charge is confirmed with you before billing, so there are no tax surprises on surgery day.
Insurance for International Patients
Coverage depends on your own policy: what your insurer recognises as medically necessary treatment, rather than the clinic’s pricing, decides how much you can claim back. Contact your provider before travelling to confirm coverage and the claim procedure, and tell us in advance which documents you will need.
Korean National Health Insurance (NHIS)
If you are enrolled in the Korean National Health Insurance Service — for example as a resident, student or worker in Korea — certain medically necessary treatments may be partly covered under NHIS rules.
At Evita Clinic, conditions that may qualify for partial NHIS coverage include:
- Gynecomastia (male breast enlargement)
- Varicose veins
- Accessory breast (polymastia) removal
- Hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis (excessive sweating and body odour)
Eligibility is decided by your diagnosis, symptoms, examination findings and NHIS criteria — not by the clinic. Cosmetic and elective aesthetic procedures such as cosmetic liposuction, body contouring and cosmetic breast surgery are not covered and are paid privately.
Contact us before your visit if you think your condition may qualify, and bring any relevant medical records or referral documents with you.
Private Health Insurance
Private policies vary widely in what they reimburse for surgery performed abroad. Ask your insurer two things before you travel: whether your specific procedure is covered when performed overseas, and which documents they require for a claim. Once we know what your insurer needs, we prepare those documents for you after surgery.
International Health Insurance
We have experience preparing claim documentation for patients insured with international providers, including the insurers below. Please let us know your insurer and provide any claim forms in advance so we can complete them correctly.
Cigna
Global health plans widely used by overseas assignees, long-term expatriates and remote workers living outside their home country.
Aetna
International health products offered under the Aetna brand, part of the CVS Health group of companies.
TieCare International
Employee benefit and health plans built for international schools and their teaching staff around the world.
AFSPA
The American Foreign Service Protective Association, which provides health benefit plans for the US federal and foreign service community.
Documents We Prepare for Your Claim
Tell us before surgery that you intend to claim, and hand over any insurer forms at your consultation. After treatment we can provide:
- Medical records and consultation notes
- Operative report describing the surgery performed
- Pathology report, where a specimen was examined
- Medical certificate or diagnosis confirmation
- Official itemised receipts for the amounts you paid
Completed insurer forms are returned to you or sent to your provider according to the instructions on the form.
How to Pay, Step by Step
Payment is settled in full before your procedure. Here is the usual sequence for a patient travelling from abroad.
1. Before You Travel
Plan the money side early
Request a written estimate in KRW, check your card’s overseas and daily limits, and ask us for the clinic’s bank details if you prefer to wire funds or use Wise. Confirm insurance coverage with your provider at this stage.
2. At Your Consultation
Final plan, final price
Dr. Jeon examines you and confirms the surgical plan, after which the price is finalised. If VAT applies to your procedure it is itemised here, and any insurance forms you brought are reviewed.
3. On Surgery Day
Balance paid, receipts issued
The remaining balance is paid before the procedure in cash, by card or from a transfer already received. The exchange rate for foreign cash is set on this date, and official receipts are issued for your records or claim.
FAQ – Payments, Exchange Rates and Insurance
Can I pay for surgery in USD or other foreign currencies?
Yes. Cash payments in USD, JPY, GBP, AUD, EUR and other major currencies are accepted. The rate applied is the bank’s cash buying rate announced on the date of payment for that specific currency. Please tell us in advance if you plan to pay in a currency other than USD.
What exchange rate does Evita Clinic use?
The cash buying rate (KRW per unit of your currency) published by a major Korean commercial bank on the day you pay. Because rates change daily, the final payable amount is confirmed on the payment date rather than when your estimate is issued.
Are credit card payments processed in KRW?
Yes. All card payments are processed in Korean won. The exchange rate and any overseas transaction fee are set by your card issuer, and the clinic cannot adjust them.
Should I check my international card limit before surgery?
Yes. Many international credit and debit cards have overseas transaction limits or daily spending caps. Confirm your limit and overseas usage authorisation with your bank in advance, because an unverified limit can delay or cancel the transaction on surgery day.
Is there a discount for cash payments?
No. The total surgical fee is the same whether you pay in cash, by card or by bank transfer. Evita Clinic keeps one consistent price regardless of payment method.
Can I pay by bank transfer?
Yes. International wire transfers in USD or KRW are accepted, and payments via Wise are also possible. PayPal is not accepted because of its high transaction fees. Contact us in advance for the clinic’s official bank details.
Do you accept PayPal?
No. PayPal is not accepted due to high transaction fees. Use an international wire transfer, Wise, a card payment in KRW, or cash instead.
Is installment payment available?
Instalment plans after surgery are not available. A partial payment can be arranged before surgery, but the full amount must be settled before the procedure takes place.
When do I have to pay for my surgery?
The full balance is due before the procedure on surgery day. You may pay part of it earlier, for example by transfer before you travel, but nothing is left outstanding after surgery.
Is VAT included in the surgery cost?
Medical treatments are generally exempt from VAT under Korean tax law. Some aesthetic procedures — including liposuction, body lifting and cosmetic breast surgery — may be taxable. When VAT applies it is itemised separately and explained before payment.
Does Korean National Health Insurance (NHIS) cover surgery?
NHIS covers only conditions recognised as medically necessary under Korean health insurance rules. Procedures such as gynecomastia surgery and varicose vein treatment may qualify when the medical criteria are met. Cosmetic procedures are not covered.
Can I claim reimbursement from my private or international insurance?
That depends on your individual policy, so confirm eligibility with your insurer before treatment. Evita Clinic supports claims by providing medical records, operative and pathology reports where applicable, medical certificates and official receipts.
Which documents will I receive for an insurance claim?
Medical records, an operative report, a pathology report where a specimen was examined, a medical certificate and itemised official receipts. Let us know before surgery which documents your insurer requires, and bring any forms that need to be completed.
Payments & Insurance
Ask Us About Payment or Insurance
Send us your procedure, your preferred payment method and your insurer, and our English coordinator will reply with a KRW estimate, whether VAT applies and which documents you will receive for a claim. Replies are sent by email or messenger, usually within one business day.
Email and Messenger
- Email : consult@evitaclinic.com
- WhatsApp : Send us a message
Private English Consultation
Get personalized advice on surgery options, recovery, cost, and travel planning.
👉 Private 1:1 English assistance — our English coordinator replies during Korea business hours (KST).
Popular procedures: Gynecomastia Surgery · FTM Top Surgery · Liposuction · Breast Reduction