A foreign student caught a cold and went to a large hospital. He gave his Alien Registration Number at the reception desk and waited a long time, and I heard the medical bill came out higher than he expected, too. When I heard that, I thought, "Ah, I should have told him this beforehand." ## The number is for checking your insurance Hospitals ask for your number first when you register. Koreans give their Resident Registration Number, and foreigners give their Alien Registration Number. They check right away with this number whether you're enrolled in national health insurance. So you don't need to think it's strange. You can check whether you're covered by insurance at the National Health Insurance Service. ## In the past, everyone went to big hospitals In the past, whenever people got sick, everyone went straight to a big hospital. Then the big hospitals were always crowded, and patients in truly urgent condition had to wait a long time. So now the roles of hospitals are divided up. A neighborhood clinic ("uiwon") treats common illnesses like colds or upset stomachs. If you need a major test or surgery, the doctor writes you a paper called a "referral letter," and that's when you go to a large hospital. ## The Rules That Remain Today This division is still reflected in the cost, too. If you go to a general hospital for a minor illness, you may have to pay more. The detailed criteria may change, so please ask at the hospital desk or the National Health Insurance Service. So if you have a cold, a fever, or an upset stomach, go to a local clinic with a sign like internal medicine or ENT. When you go to a large hospital, bring a referral letter. If you suddenly get seriously hurt, don't hesitate to call 119.