Korean Job Discussion Forums

ujin821 · Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Location: obsolete account

I was wondering what health insurance options are available (and how much they cost) for people with F-visas who don't get health insurance from any jobs they work at.

I figure I could directly enroll with NHIC but I was wondering how much it costs seeing that it won't be a percentage that is deducted from my wages.

Also, I've heard of AIG having insurance in Korea. Any idea on how that is or how much it costs, and if it is better than NHIC? Any other non-government companies that are notable?

I am aware that there is health insurance info in the FAQs section but they are a couple years old. The search function on this forum is pretty bad, too...

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

If you have an F visa, you should be covered, automatically, by your spouse's NHI, if she/he works, or whoever insures your spouse - parents, for example.

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

What kind of visa are you on? I don't know if it applies to all F visa holders but F-4 holders are required to have insurance through the NHIC. Let's say you've been here on an F-4 visa for a year and just now decide to get insurance. They will retroactively bill you for the past year. You buy insurance 3 months at a time and it runs about 60,000 won per month.

You might want to check real quick because you might be required to pay insurance.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

If you have an F-4 like I do, you have to pay for insurance yourself, usually around 53,000 won a month. The catch is, to get the insurance if your employer won't sponsor you, you have to pay for all the months you were NOT insured (a boneheaded retarded rule). For example, if you entered Korea in Jan. 2005 and didn't apply for health insurance until Jan. 2006, you have to pay for all of 2005 though you received no coverage.

The best way to get it is to either have your employer get it for you or get it as soon as you get your visa.

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I am an F2, and although I have the basic national insurance from my Uni, I have a meeting with Samsung Health Insurance this Thursday for addtional coverage on about everything else.

My wife set up a Korean agent to come with the help of an interpreter. I bet he wouldn't mind the opportunity to sell more policies.

Anyone want to tag along? They're meeting me in my office on Thursday evening at 6pm. I live not far from Hyewha.

She actually has two policies on herself: 98,000 won per month for Samsung Insurance to cover accidents and diseases, and $23 for AIG that covers just cancer. She said it's cheaper for women. We'll find out what it costs for men on Thursday.

As I understand it, he will be presenting two different policy options. PM me if you'd like to join us.

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

I'd actually take you up on that offer if Thursday night wasn't the second day of my evening Korean class at SNU. Thanks for offering.

Let me know what documents (e.g. medical history, previous insurance policies/history) from America the insurance agent requires. Maybe it's just required that you go through a thorough medical exam in Korea and that's it? Please tell me what hoops the agent requires you to jump through, as it'd be insightful for other foreigners, myself included, to know how sign-up procedures for health insurance are done here.

Chris Kwon · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Location: North Korea

Wtf as soon as I get my f4, even if I don't have a job, I have to get insurance????? WHY!

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

The Grumpy Senator · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Up and down the 6 line

ujin821 · Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Location: obsolete account

Sweet, thanks for all your responses. I'm on an F-4, so it seems I'll have to get the NHIC and pay for the few months I haven't paid.

I guess it then boils down to whether or not I need/want any supplementary insurance. I'm healthy enough to say no, but if there is something out there that is an extra 10-40k a month to cover an extra 25+% over the base 50% coverage, I would consider it. Any known insurances for something like that? Someone mentioned the Samsung insurance above and the AIG insurances as some examples, but I'm thinking about something cheaper and /or less specific. If nothing like that exists, I think the NHIC sounds fine enough

Thanks a bunch

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

harryh · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: south of Seoul

Double post

harryh · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: south of Seoul

My wife and I have the NHIC insurance. Between us we pay 88,000 a month at the moment, obviously it'll be different for people with different incomes.

I have taken out a life & health insurance policy with Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, which sets me back 130,000 won. My wife pays 100,000 won for the same policy. After a set period, we'll get a percentage back.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

I have no health insurance because I'd have to pay THREE years of premiums for a period that I was uninsured. I hope to get a full-time job instead of working freelance so that my company can take care of it, but I will not pay more than 3 million won just to get into the insurance system.