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valkerie
Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Busan
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:10 am Post subject: Dental care=national health insurance? |
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Hi there,
Hoping someone can give me an answer on a query I have. In a contract I received it says will have Korean Nat. health Insurance but that dental and pre-existing conditions are excluded!
Couldn't find anything on a search of this site but Google pointed me towards a 2001 document which said dental is ok (then later said scaling isn't...fine...prosthetics...hopefully fine...orthodontics NOT.)
So please...anyone got any clue?
Thanks in advance. |
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jeffkim1972
Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:20 am Post subject: |
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from what i've heard about Korea, there is no dental insurance. you pay everything yourself. |
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horang
Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:26 am Post subject: |
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What's covered:
1. Check-up with x-ray: 3000 won ($3)
2. Curing cavaties & root canal; you pay about 3000 - 10000 won ($3-10)
3. Curing infections: about same
4. General filling with amalgam: about same
5. Dental surgery
Not covered:
1. Cleaning: but it's cheap, 30000 - 60000 won ($30-60)
2. Filling with pocelain or better: about 100000 or more per tooth (>$100)
3. Implants: expensive
4. Dental corrections with braces: 5 million won ($5000) |
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valkerie
Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Busan
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:33 am Post subject: |
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Cheers for the quick replies.
Now I am confused as to why the contract says dental isn't covered...it is DEF Nat. health...is there some kind of reduced cover policy they can buy into? Hmmmmmmmm. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:22 am Post subject: |
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valkerie wrote: |
Cheers for the quick replies.
Now I am confused as to why the contract says dental isn't covered...it is DEF Nat. health...is there some kind of reduced cover policy they can buy into? Hmmmmmmmm. |
Contracts that typically read like that are ususally from hakwons that do NOT subscribe to the NHIC national medical plan (illegal).
Be very careful when you check THEIR references.
The best you can do is minimize the risk by talking to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder). Don't accept non-specific answers and broad generalizations.
No foreign staff references to talk to = walk away now.
Accept NO EXCUSES for any reason.
The hard questions to ask AND get acceptable answers to ARE:
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month? NOT hour many hours per month. 30 classroom hours can mean anything from 1350 -1800 minutes per week standing in front of the class. The difference can be up to 7.5 HOURS in front of the class EACH WEEK.
-Do they ALWAYS pay on time? (no=red flag 1)
-Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 2)
-Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping? (no=red flag 3)
-Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 4)
-Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 5)
-Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 6)
-What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 7)
-When and how do you get your holidays?
-What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.
-Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).
Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag Cool
I would also like to mention for I would also like to mention for comparison:
My co-worker who is a green as grass, fresh of the boat newbie gets a base salary of 2.1 mil per month for 22 classes of 40 minutes each.
She gets 20k won for each 40 minute class over 22 per week and works from 8:30-4:30 each day. She usually averages 26 classes per week and her salary works out to about 2.5 mil per month.
She also gets (as required by law and ignored by most hakwons) NHIC medical, pension, severance, non-shared housing, airfare and 4 weeks annual PAID vacation.
Do NOT be in a rush to sign anything. There is NO rush or urgency in spite of what your recruiter may tell you.
Take your time. The job (or more likely a better one) will still be there next week and probably next month too.
There are 30,000 openings in Korea each year and only about 25,000 applicants to fill those jobs each year.
I hope that has been of some help. |
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