Job Discussion Forums

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

The problem is that in a true emergency, like a heart attack, repatriation may not be an option, no matter what insurance you have. By nature, emergencies need to be handled now. Often in China, depending on where you are, you just aren't going to be able to get it handled properly, because the facilities and skillsets are non-accessible or non-existent -- again, no matter what insurance or how much money you have. You definitely have to accept some extra risk in order to work in China.

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

I'd venture to say that's true for over 90% of the world's population.

While acknowledging zero's observation, I don't think modern comforts, hygiene standards, or medical readiness are at the top of the lists of people like us who choose work in the so-called developing world.
Otherwise, why not just sit in front of the tube watching BBC documentaries eating potato chips and chugging diet coke?

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Your school should at least help you with ordering health insurance from PICC whether they pay for it or you have to. Without a good level of Chinese, you will have a lot of trouble getting the right documents for a claim, filling out the proper forms etc., etc. Not helping you get a health insurance policy and file a claim if necessary should give you a good idea about how much support you should expect from the school should an emergency arise.

Also, wherever you are, it's a good idea to ask lots of locals about which hospital is the best or whether your city has even one that you would go to in a serious situation. Ask while you are healthy. You might be better off traveling to a top-tier city to get sufficiently trained doctors and sufficiently equipped hospitals.

I'm in a smallish city which has the region's best hospital, which wasn't bad when I used it. My only complaint is they are reluctant to use even non-narcotic pain medicine. I don't see the point of suffering to the point of not sleeping or not being able to eat due to pain when that pain could be dulled at the very least. I would have smuggled in my own aspirin if I had known what a hassle it would be to get some pain relief. (I normally don't take anything for anything and prefer living with a minor pain to popping a pill.) Otherwise, it was good treatment at a ridiculously low price compared to the States.

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

My contract says that the school is to pay for "comprehensive health insurance", but when I was hospitalized with some some sort of airborne respiratory infection last year, I had to pay for all expenses.

There is no way of knowing whether one really has school-provided coverage until it is needed, and by then, it may be too late. Buy your own.

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

It's a WORD DOCUMENT?!

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

do bring a copy of the appendix (with important items highlighted/highlit) when you meet the fao to sign the real contract and appendix. check that the copies you are signing agree with yours. sometimes the changes you
requested (and the school agreed to) don't make it into the final copy,
or they mistakenly print off an older version.

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

nope. you didn't get the 'standard' package.
that 2-coulumn blue thingy is just the recruiter's list 'o stuff.
probably just a summary of what (might) be in the actual contract.

safea contract is a standard document printed by the
gub'mint, with official numbers and all.

the appendix/addendum is prepared by the school,
or in your case, by the recruiter. the ones i've seen all smell
and taste like a contract, with paragraphs and punctuation
and everything.

housing better be detailed in the appendix!

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

Thanks for bringing light to the blind.

I guess I figured that the stuff on the blue form (what I mislabeled as standard- just meant 'template') would in all its detail be on the copy paper 'contract' I got. That's what you get for assuming, eh. So now do I have to negotiate all the details from the blue form back into the appendixes? Or at least the things I consider important? Definitely the housing details.

So then the appendix is transcribed on to an official binding contract and then the deal is done? I signed my paper contract and emailed- that can't be treated as official.

Then I can finally teach? : ) Please don't bother to reply unless I still got it wrong.

By the way, my agent gave me the blue thingy but now the school has taken over everything. They're OK, but not surprisingly far less reassuring than the sunny agent!