Got a Quote from a Korean Clinic? 6 Things to Check Before You Confirm

Before you confirm a quote from a Korean clinic, it is safer to check six things: whether the listed items and number of sessions match what you discussed, whether tests, anesthesia and medication are included, how many follow-up visits are covered, what the conditions are for a touch-up, how charges might change if the plan changes, and how cancellation and documents are handled. A quote usually shows item names and a total, and cost increases usually come from details that are not written down.

Mediport is not a medical institution. This article explains how to read a quote. It does not cover which treatment is right for you or what a reasonable fee would be. Treatment and fees are set and explained by the medical institution that treats you.

What a quote usually shows and what it leaves out

Most of the cosmetic, plastic surgery and dental care that international patients receive in Korea is non-covered care, meaning national health insurance does not apply. Korea's Medical Service Act, Article 45, requires clinics to disclose non-covered fees in a way patients can easily understand, and prohibits charging more than the disclosed amount. That makes a quote a useful record in itself. Still, a legal duty to disclose fees is not the same as having every condition written on one page.

What you usually see on a quote is the procedure name, the treatment area and the total. Some things tend to come up in consultation messages or in conversation and never make it onto the quote: the number of follow-up visits, touch-up conditions, parts that may change depending on test results on the day of treatment, cancellation rules, and documents for your trip home. The table below sets out the difference at a glance.

The middle columns describe a general pattern and differ from clinic to clinic. What matters is filling in the blanks before you confirm.

1. Do the procedures and number of sessions match your consultation?

Start by comparing the item names and session counts on the quote with what you were told in consultation. The quote is built on details like how many sessions a skin treatment includes, how many teeth a dental treatment covers, or which areas a surgery includes. Procedures with the same name can differ depending on the materials or products used, so you can ask the clinic to write down which ones by name. If something differs from what you heard in consultation messages, ask right away. Once you arrive, there is little time to change things.

2. Are tests, anesthesia, medication and supplies included?

Sometimes a quote lists the procedure fee but leaves out what is needed before and after it: tests on the day of treatment, anesthesia, prescription medication afterward, and supplies such as ointment or a protective dressing. Whether these are included varies by clinic, so this is not a question with one right answer. It is a question to confirm. Asking in a single sentence, "What is included in this amount and what is charged separately?", usually gets a clear reply.

3. How many follow-up visits are included, and until when?

This matters most if you are traveling from abroad. Whether the quote covers the visits you need while in Korea, such as a check the day after the procedure, stitch removal a few days later, or a progress check a week later, affects both your schedule and your costs. Ask how many visits are included and until when, and check that those dates fall before your flight home. It also helps to ask at this point where to send questions that come up after you get home.

4. What are the conditions for a touch-up or revision?

Asking ahead about what happens if the result is not what you expected is preparation, not suspicion. Check whether a touch-up or revision is possible, and if so, until when after the procedure, who decides whether it is needed, and what it costs. These conditions vary widely by clinic and procedure, and in some cases a repeat procedure is not medically advised. So the goal is not to expect a set answer but to get that clinic's own standard in writing.

5. If the plan changes, how might the cost change?

Most quotes given to patients abroad are based on photos and messages. When the doctor examines you and runs tests on the day of treatment, the plan may change, and you will receive a revised quote. That is not a mistake. It is a limit of photo consultations. Before you confirm, ask two things: whether you will be informed again before the procedure if the plan changes, and what happens if you do not agree to the revised plan. For how to prepare when a plan changes, see When the plan changes.

6. Cancellation and rescheduling rules, and documents for your trip home

Flights change, and sometimes you need to postpone because of how you are feeling. If there is a deposit, check before you confirm how it is handled depending on when you change your booking. Ask about documents at the same time. If you need an English medical certificate, a doctor's report or a receipt to show a doctor back home, ask whether the clinic can issue them, when you can get them, and whether there is a separate fee. Korean medical law requires clinics to post the fees they charge for issuing certificates. For which records are worth taking with you, see Records to take home.

How to send your questions and keep the answers

If asking all six at once feels like a lot, you can copy and send the questions below as they are.

• How many sessions (or treatment areas) is this quote based on, and which materials or products will you use?
• Are any tests, anesthesia, prescription medication or supplies not included in this amount?
• How many follow-up visits are included, and until when?
• What are the conditions and charges if a touch-up or revision is needed?
• If the plan changes after tests on the day of treatment, will you explain it to me again before the procedure?
• Please tell me your cancellation and rescheduling rules and how to get English documents.

Get the answers in a form that stays on record, such as messages or email, and keep them with the quote. When something is said aloud through an interpreter, each side may remember it differently later.

What Mediport does

Mediport is a government-registered foreign patient facilitator in Seoul (registration number A-2026-01-01-07030, Portzone Inc.). We do not set or negotiate prices. Medical fees are set and explained by the medical institution. What we do is pass the six questions above to the clinic in a language you are comfortable with, summarize the answers for you, and interpret during your appointment. If you already have a quote, you can send it with the amounts covered, and we will help you see which questions are still open.