Korean Job Discussion Forums

[teejay537]

I have been offered a position where the school stipulates they will provide private health insurance. My question is whether this can satisfy the government's requirement that all E2 visa holders have insurance, or whether there is no choice but to get NHIC? Is it a red flag that the school may be saving on costs by not registering staff for insurance, pension etc. and best to stay away? Bizarrely, my recruiter 'claims' to have no knowledge of health insurance issues, and told me that I don't even need insurance as I am "not Korean".

Basically, if I go with this school that may provide good private insurance and all goes well, what happens if I change to another job that does register me with NHIC - will I definitely have to backpay premiums, or could I convince them that I was covered all that time and avoid a penalty? By the way, the sample contract describes me as a 'teacher', not 'employee'

[TheUrbanMyth]

[teejay537]

Thanks for your insight. The question still remains for me whether private insurance can be substitutable for NHIC, in the eyes of government - i.e. if the NHIC ever comes knocking with a bill, or if immigration was to make an issue of it, can a person show proof of private coverage during the period and that satisfy? Or is it NHIC or no dice?

[Skippy]

I sort of want to know this too.

Yet, I think NO. Private insurance is usually more as a top up of public insurance. Private is used to add better coverage.

The problem with going with private...

1) Against the law. All registered workers are to be registered with NHIC. Yep, even waygooks on E2 visas.
2) Getting reimbursement from private can take time. You can be even refused payment by insurance company. Why, because umm you are not following the rules.
3) Hospitals might even refuse you service.
4) You get charged FULL rate of services at hospital, because your insurance does not work.

Some other problems with private is....

5) Schools use a way to try and avoid paying PENSION too. In general you get NHIC, you are also enrolled with PENSION. Pension is also required by law! For some people they want this. For some people you loose out of extra money. You like more money yes.
6) If teacher extends or transfers with another school. They risk having to pay back the money they should paid for previous year or employment period.
7) Even worse a variation with number 6. If the school provides private insurance, this might be part of a scam move. School does not mention they likely signed said person up as an Independent Contractor. If person is a IC then the full payment of NHIC is the responsibility of teacher. School owes nothing. So you will have to pay back all the money for the time unregistered.
Don't forget with number 6 and 7. NHIC and pension are linked. So you also will have to pay back PENSION for the time your where not registered.
9) Private can cost MORE then public. And it still might not work...
Related thread. I remember another thread, someone was paying for private and the amount they where paying would have covered both pension and NHIC payments. If the boss was also contributing their half. Maybe the person might lose out on pension (ie British, Kiwi) or is lossing out on money (ie Canuck, US).
10) Private is used as an excuse to stall. OK you accept private and you find a couple month down the road, SURPRISE. The school has still not registered you for that. Even worse is the school might have collected your insurance premiums and pocketed it. School promises to register and you wait and wait and wait some more. All the while paying FULL rate for any health problems.

Well, hope we can still get a straight answer to your question.

[12ax7]

Private health insurance is meant to provide supplementary coverage to the national programme, not serve as its substitute.

When my wife registered her business, she had to start contributing into the national programme. She wasn't given the option even though she was covered by my own insurance. In other words, everyone who earns a salary must contribute to it.

[big_fella1]

You must have NHIC. You can either join yourself, or decent employers will join you up.

Some companies try to get out of insurance by providing you travel insurance. The problems are:
1. You have a 13 month visa, the travel insurance will refuse to pay if anything goes wrong.
2. You are liable for any NHIC amounts that haven't been paid, possibly years later. A receipt for private insurance will not cut it.

Seriously in the current hagwon climate the employers pulling these scams are going to the wall. Unless you can get paid weekly, I wouldn't take a job with any of them.

[12ax7]

[teejay537]

These type jobs are the only ones I'm being offered so the problem seems pretty widespread. I had an NET at one of the schools say, very cheerfully, that he hadn't needed his insurance card during the year because he was healthy, but that he was sure his director "had his card in his office" if needed. Also, the recruiters I'm using (about 10) haven't mentioned this issue of illegality, and seem offended when I do, like they will drop me if I dare request a legal job arrangement. I'm getting a bit despondent...

[big_fella1]

I can imagine how you feel. I just noticed on your location says South Africa.

If you are South African you have a huge advantage, hagwons can employ you, provide health insurance, but they do not need to pay your pension.

South Africans are the only ones eligible for English Speaking E2's that don't get pension.

I say negotiate, please give me health insurance, because you don't have to pay pension.

Failing that China is another option.

Good luck.

[Savant]

[teejay537]

These type jobs are the only ones I'm being offered so the problem seems pretty widespread. I had an NET at one of the schools say, very cheerfully, that he hadn't needed his insurance card during the year because he was healthy, but that he was sure his director "had his card in his office" if needed. Also, the recruiters I'm using (about 10) haven't mentioned this issue of illegality, and seem offended when I do, like they will drop me if I dare request a legal job arrangement. I'm getting a bit despondent...

[12ax7]

[Weigookin74]

[schwa]

[big_fella1]