Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

I went to have a check-up yesterday and was quoted nearly 1,500 NTD (and probably around 2,000 NTD if I include a test for hepatitis, an extremely common thing here).

I have the standard national health insurance here and pay into it every month, I presented my national health insurance IC card at the hospital several times, and everything, so I don't see why I need to pay the full ticket price for a run-of-the-mill check-up...

They claim check-ups aren't covered by national health insurance.

I think that's ludicrous.

ANNUAL CHECK-UPS, NOT COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE?

Are they kidding?

If those aren't covered, then what else isn't covered?

I thought annual check-ups were a normal, run-of-the-mill thing that everybody is supposed to do, not to mention that catching problems early ought to save the national health system money in the long run...

Were the doctors/nurses feeding me a load of crap, or is this really true?

[markholmes]

You get what you pay for. I had a kidney stone removed when I lived in Taiwan it cost me 7,000 NT for an overnight stay and a catheter. I was shocked to be presented with the bill, but I asked them to breakdown what I had paid for and it was all above board as far as I could see. National Health doesn't cover the full cost of many treatments, but it should help prevent you landing in the poorhouse.

[Rooster_2006]

[markholmes]

How much is it you pay out of your monthly pay cheque, out of interest?

[creztor]

Rooster,
It's completely normal. However, I wouldn't say that the checks are all very run of the mill. There is an X-ray and a blood check that goes looking for nasties. I have done the exact same checkup in Australia and it was at least double, I think probably even triple. I am not trying to sound like an arse here, but just let it go. They aren't trying to scam you.

[dangerousapple]

As far as I know, health insurance does not cover any type of elective procedure, meaning any kind of physical exam would not be covered.

[Rooster_2006]

I guess I'll just pay the fee and move on...

Realistically, I'm not going to change the system, and I need a checkup, so I'll just suck it up and pay.

For what it's worth, though, I think routine checkups should be covered.

However, in a last-ditch effort to save 1/15 of my monthly salary, I have one more question:
I've been told that this would be cheaper at a smaller clinic, but all the smaller clinics I've seen have been specialty clinics (ENT, urologist, etc.) -- is there a smaller clinic where I can get this checkup done in Kaohsiung, and if so, where?

Thanks.

[louis.p]

@ Rooster_2006 --

There are check-up clinics; they might be a bit cheaper than the hospital. I'll find the Chinese name for such clinics in a bit and post it. I wouldn't trust the run-of-the-mill street-side clinic here, though; I've had bad experiences with them every time I've gone.

As for check-ups, they're big business. For a detailed blood test, the like that kind find cancer, you'll be paying around 30k! (That's what my wife says). For 2k you're just going to get the basics. To another point, all universities and many companies offer annual check-ups for free/at a discount to their employees/students. I had one in Taipei through my school for $800NT. Perhaps you could mention this to your boss...

[yamahuh]

[louis.p]

[yamahuh]

Well she's Canadian not Taiwanese and as we have both worked at the same schools up until this most recent contract I can state categorically that she didn't have any other private insurance or extended benefits. Neither of us have any other emergency medical benefits or insurance and the only card she presented during admission was her Taiwanese Health Card.

If it was a mistake it was a very well received one.

[Rooster_2006]

Well, in my case, the story has ended semi-happily: I found a hospital that would do the tests I wanted for 520 NTD.

Still not covered in any way, shape, or form by insurance, but at least the hospital wasn't trying to rip me off this time.