Korean Job Discussion Forums

[watergirl]

Hi Everybody...
I guess I'm hoping people who have been here awhile might know about this.
I went to the International clinic at sookmungchoon Univ. hospital and find their prices to be very high, (I have medical insurance and paid almost 200,000 won for 3 tests) and I was told it's because it's a private hospital.

Meanwhile, once I had to go for an emergency root canal at a hospital in Seoul ( it was in the Sinchon area but I can't remember the name) and was only charged a very tiny amount...20,000 won. . And, I suspect this is due to the one being a public and the other a private hospital.
Anyways, so this Q is for those expats who have been here for awhile, as I find new people seem to just go to the international clinics, and after being here awhile, I've come to realize that most doctors in Korea speak pretty good English.

Anyways, I need to see a good doctor, which I've been told are only in the hospitals in Korea for some reason, but was wondering if anyone can recommend a normal Korean hospital they go to because I find most doctors here actually speak a lot of English.
And, does anyone know about 'seoul national U. hospital and if their prices are exorbant?

Thanks.

[ttompatz]

It wasn't a private/public issue.

It was the "international" clinic vs the Korean side of the hospital.

Had you gone through the "Korean" desk rather than the "International" one you would have received the same services and treatment from (mostly) the same people for a fraction of the cost.

.

[atwood]

The low cost was probably because it ws an emergency procedure. A normal root canal is going to cost a lot more than 20,000won.

There is usually a surcharge for going through a hospital's international clinic but the test costs would still be the same.

Hospitals are going to cost more than clinics but clinics can be just as good, depending on the problem. SNU is definitely going to be pricey when compared to local clinics.

[EZE]

What type of doctor do you need? Someone here can probably recommend a good clinic if you can specify the specialty.

[watergirl]

I don't know..I have rashes on my feet and hands and weird muscle pains.So, something that is going to require a lot of tests I think, cause the doctor doesn't know what it is.
I think it would need to be in a clinic attached to a hospital.
It seems to me, that here in Korea, the Koreans go to the hospitals for tests and such instead of their local doctor.

[emetib]

I would highly recommend you go to a hospital as opposed to a local clinic, because it seems you will need the tests anyways. Some of the private clinics are good, but you need to be able to have a "decent" physician who can diagnose your condition accurately (as well as have the ability to communicate with you). The local clinic would more than likely refer you to a hospital anyways due to their limitation in pharmaceuticals/testing available. Neighbourhood pharmacies do NOT carry all of the highly specified pharmaceuticals like ones back home. They only carry what the local doctors they work with require for their patients. I lost count of how many times a pharmacy here told me, "You need to go to a pharmacy by a hospital for this medicine. We do not carry this medication. We only carry basic medications for the ENT doctor above us."

SoonChunHyang Hospital in Seoul (Hannam-dong) charges the regular Korean fee plus a 5,000 won interpretation fee. Good hospital. Love my doctors. Been going there for three years. I was a patient for surgery in ANOTHER hospital, and my doctor followed up with me while I was still admitted there. She also helped me diagnose a fracture while I was in another country.

http://www.schmc.ac.kr/seoul/kor/index.do

02-709-9158

Samsung Hospital (Irwon-dong) will charge you an arm and a leg unless you go through the FAMILY medicine department like a regular Korean patient. I haven't been there lately, but I do have a friend on staff there.

http://english.samsunghospital.com/main/english.do

Ring them, tell them you are a foreigner who wants to go to their family medicine dept. etc.

Avoid Eulji Hospitals like the plague-especially getting admitted to one. They almost killed me....twice.

Side Note: Most blood tests (I think all-but don't quote me on it) aren't discounted by insurance. Meds, x-rays, hospitalization, procedures etc. are.

Make sure you have national insurance, and not the private stuff (LIG etc.) or you will be facing a bit of a headache. You can self-enroll for national insurance if need be.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

[watergirl]

Yes, I have national medical insurance, but I it seems the two tests were not covered at all !!
By the way, I have gone to soonchun...hopsital 2x for my Pub. School yearly medical and they have charged me about 90,000 won, while, I know Korean co-teachers have gone to hospitals and only paid 40,000 won.
My Korean friend has explained to me that Soonchun.. is a 1st tier hospital (connected w. research etc,) and they charge the most, but their are 2nd or 3rd tier hospitals that are cheaper.
But, I swear, the Koreans will say they go to the 'hospital' when actually, they went to a doctor.
sigh.. very confusing.

[EZE]

[atwood]