Job Discussion Forums

Cdilts · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 50

Hey guys, I have a contract with a school in Songyuan and it mentions that there aren't any medical benefits.

My question is:

Do most positions offer medical benefits as an included standard, or do most only offer 'accidental insurance' (which I'm not completely sure what that is exactly)?

I thought I've done quite a bit of pre-travel reading, but don't yet have a conclusive answer for this.

I'm trying to get my ducks in a row for when I go in March, and wondering whether I should find an option on how to extend my current 'swanky office job' medical benefits, or request that they provide medical coverage, before I go.

I don't currently have any medical issues but I figure it's better safe than sorry. Plus from what I hear about the pollution in the North/Northeast and the possibilities of serious respiratory infections I don't want to take my chances.

Thanks!

PS. I tried to search under 'medical benefits' on this forum but it didn't seem to give me any conclusive or helpful answers.

Lipps · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 45

Not really. Chinese schools offer free medical services for cuts and bruises, anything else is generally the responsibility of the teacher. That being said, they are obligated to have a life insurance policy on you according to Chinese law. Its kinda unfair because most schools are required to provide insurance for their Chinese employees.

You can buy insurance in China for really cheap, or use a domestic medical provider (set your trip cost to zero to only get medical benefits and save money) I use TravelEx International Medical Insurance.

chengdu4me · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:50 pm Post subject:

Some schools will pay for your health care insurance, others won't. It's all up to your negotiating skills. Basically, it is not that expensive ( about a half a days pay for 6 month policy). Mine was 220 RMB for 6 months and that includes evacuation insurance.

Doctors visits are cheap. Medical care is cheap. Even if you have insurance, the hospitals/doctors don't file insurance claims for you. You have to pay them for services up front ( as in they tell you what it will cost to treat you and you pay it before they treat you), then file the claim with your insurance company.

tomstone · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 293

My contract offers accident insurance only; 500,000 RMB, in fact. Pretty good. Any other health issues are my responsibility, but hospital visits are ultra-cheap where I'm at.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

I doubt that extending your "swanky" office job medical benefits will help. Not sure if you are American. If so, buying the COBRA coverage would be really expensive, probably as much as your entire China salary, and, more importantly, probably would not cover you in China anyway.

I would not depend on the "cheap" Chinese health care. If something really serious happens -- some young, healthy people who got the swine flu in the U.S. ended up in the ICU on ventilators, and some died -- I am not sure I would want my life in the hands of standard Chinese hospitals. Even if the care is adequate (and I do mean if) I am not sure they would give you full treatment unless you could produce full payment up front, or, at minimum, a substantial deposit. You may not keep that much cash on hand, and even if you do, you may not be in good enough condition to run home and get it. Local Chinese people have family members to help with this sort of thing; you don't.

Definitely I would buy and international medical insurance policy that would pay for care in an international-level hospital of the type found in Shanghai. The price of the policy won't be all that high, and it will be well worth it.

Cdilts · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 50

Interesting, thank you for the advice.

I got my H1N1 vaccine taken care of, along with several others, when I went to get my Chinese Medical form filled for the Visa/Invitation letter. So at least I don't have to worry about getting that....

I'll check into getting international health insurance for the next year.

Thanks again.

hankemhigh · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 86

Seuss930 · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 37

Personal experience with this (also recently managed a school)

MOST uni's and English chain schools provide medical insurance
this covers exactly the square root of F#%K ALL.

If you get hurt, in the city where you are working, it will pay up to ...
(usually) 10,000RMB - 20,000RMB for procedures to fix you up. You pay up front, and the school insurance man will visit with you and reimburse you. KEEP ALL RECEIPTS!! Also, if you do not have enough money to pay for it up front, you will probably be screwed. They may or may not fix you up.

TRUE STORY. This teacher at a hospital bleeding heavily (almost cut two fingers off) had to wait while somebody went back to his apartment to get his wallet and passport. After, he found that he didn't have enough cash so the doctors asked him which finger he wanted them to fix because he only had enough for one. (Initially, he chose the bigger one - more finger for your buck!!) It got resolved because he gave up his passport as collateral. But the school did reimburse him.

Believe it or not, I had absolutely no trouble getting my money (cut myself and needed stitches)

If you get plain sick. Zilch!! If you get sick enough to stay in a hospital, it'll cover the stay until the money runs out. Probably the same process though. Pay up front. Get money back.

Any decent school should offer something though. I would insist on it. Personal insurance is a good idea but I don't think I know anyone personally who has needed it.

kukiv · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 328

chengdu4me wrote;

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"Do most positions offer medical benefits as an included standard, or do most only offer 'accidental insurance' (which I'm not completely sure what that is exactly)? " -- Cdilts

"Accident Insurance" is the minimum coverage that the Chinese government requires of businesses for employee accidents at work, or on the way to and from. It is what they would typically have to buy for their migrant workers; that is, Chinese who are not legal residents of the city in which they are working. Oh, yeah, and it's what some buy for their foreign teachers, too. Legal Chinese residents of a city get their health insurance through their employer.

Foreign teachers used to fall under an older system in which your "work unit," the school, was responsible for medical costs. This cost them something, so some have taken advantage of weaker government requirements to drop that and just buy the accident coverage. In short, health insurance is a good thing if you can get your employer to provide it. Otherwise, you're basically on your own. This will sound all too familiar to many Americans.

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

I was under the impression that serious medical insurance, ie, the type that a good job will get you in the US, isn't offered at all in China unless you work at a very high end international school.

killian · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:18 pm Post subject:

i was sent here from a korea. they promised me the same benefits in china as they were giving in korea, including pension and health insurance.

the reality on the ground? they lied and lie yet today.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

kukiv · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 328

Only workers employed in state companies can be guaranteed to receive any form of insurance - the vast majority in the private sector are given nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cdilts · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 50