Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lola723]

Saluations!

I'm currently in the process of getting all my documents together in the US to come to Korea to work for a hagwon. My job is basically set, and I understand the benefits that come with working for this specific company.

One of the benefits is national health insurance, for which I split the cost 50/50 with my hagwon. I was checking out the national health insurance site (http://www.nhic.or.kr/english/index.html) to see if I could find out if a prescription medication that I take is available in Korea and if it will be covered or not.

My medication is an anti depressant that is very costly in the States ("Abilify" to be exact). I take it on a daily basis. (*Note*- Please don't misinterpret me for being mentally unstable, it's simply one of those things. I live a normal life with normal ups and downs, but this medication has helped me greatly to deal with clinical depression). I need to take it, period. Apart from that, I'm a happy and healthy person.

I tried emailing the company at the email address indicated on the website. I even tried calling Korea from the States, but the person on the other end and I could barely communicate due to a lanaguage barrier (her English was very limited).

Is there ANY way of finding out if my medication is avaiable, if it is covered, and if not, what other alternatives there are? Do any of you have NHI? If so, any clue what some of the mental health benefits might be? This is obviously not something that I wish to discuss with my potential boss!!!

Any help/advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Rteacher]

Even when you're in Korea, it's often very hard to communcate by phone to medical centers - even those with foreigner clinics like Seoul National University Hospital.

Sometimes they just don't answer their phones.

But you can keep trying. Some of them have websites where you can communicate with them via email, and they possibly may be able to answer specific questions about medication and coverage (though it's a longshot...)

Here's some useful general information and a listing of International Clinics: http://www.seoulsearching.com/healthsafety/health.html

[Zaria32]

I take several prescription medications too. Three of the four I take are available here and I pay FAAAARRRR less for them than in the US. However, one is not available. There are substitutes, and I now take one of those.

You may find your med here without any hassle, but I'd talk to your doctor at home and have a list of 3 or 4 that could be substitutes. I'd also bring several months worth of your med, so that is you do have to change you can do it gradually.

[Oreovictim]

Even if it's not covered, you'll save some massive bucks. In the U.S., when I'd want to get a refill on my Xanax, it would cost me a fortune. Let's see . . . I think that I paid around $100.00 just to see the doctor, and then I would have to pay, I can't remember, $50.00 - $100.00 just for the drugs. (You can save a crap-load of money by picking up your drugs at Sam's Club. It's a lot cheaper than Walgreens, and you don't even have to be a member.)

In Korea, I'd pay $30.00 and that would cover the cost of the doctor's visit, and 100 pills. But Thailand is even cheaper. I paid $3.00 for the doctor's visit and 30 pills.

Ya gotta love America.