Korean Job Discussion Forums

[miss maam]

I found out that the insurance offered through my hogwan is actually fake. It's just something they pay out-of-pocket when you need to see a doctor, but it doesn't have any legal weight which could be bad if something major happened.

After a long discussion with my boss we decided that I could get legitimate private insurance, but she said I need to do the research. I have been looking for hours and hours on the internet, and all I'm coming up with is travel insurance. I just want something that a regular Korean would get for private insurance.

Where can I start? And does anyone else have experience with so-called "self-insurance" (their fake insurance)?

[Whistleblower]

This isn't your job to do. It is the employer's responsibility to provide National Health Insurance as it is the law. Contact the labor board for advice and they will try to get your employer "in gear".

I also suggest you look at the Labor Standards Act which is a sticky.

[shifdog]

A regular Korean gets the National Health Insurance Plan, and you should too by law. Quit allowing your boss to tool you around and get her to hook you up.

[icicle]

While there is nothing stopping you from having additional private medical insurance ... Legally you do need to have the National Health Insurance as well ... Normally half is paid by you and half by your employer .... This is definitely not optional ... to you or to your employer.

The fact that they are not paying for Medical Insurance ... Makes me ask the question as to whether or not you have confirmed that they are paying for your taxes (paying the Tax Office) and for your pension (again half you and half your employer) .... Not paying one ... makes me question it because paying any one of those things can raise flags for needing the others paid as well ... So often employers who don't pay one of these ... don't pay any of them ... You can check this with the Tax Office and with the Pension Office ... It is better to sort out any problems with this now .. rather than later ... Because if they are not paid ... you may need to pay the back pay for them back until the date when you started work ...

Icicle

[chinook]

The first job I had in Korea just paid half of any medical costs we had. One girl got quite sick and was covered, so none of us were really worried that the school wouldn't pay. Also, I suspect it saved me a lot of money.

That said, I wouldn't accept anything but schools with National Health anymore.

[tob55]

There are options for private health insurance...I have major medical policies myself...PM me an I can give you more information...In fact I'll give you a number in PM to call me...My wife helped me with my private insurance and am I ever glad she did...Young people coming here should consider it, especially since if they are in a serious accident here, they are likely going to have a lot of out of pocket expense, and it just isn't worth the risk...That was my take on it anyway...

[ttompatz]