Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Trevor]

Sorry, not going to post the detalis of this one just yet. I'm trying to handle it diplomatically, first. I have some complaints about a Korean university hospiital and I don't know where to start. The English speaking liaison at the hosptital whose job it is to communicate to foreigners is one of my main complaints, so I can't talk to them. The compalints involve overcharging me and the administration of healthcare services. Anybody know where I can start? It's not necessarily a "foreigner" issue. I am pretty sure this hospital gives shoddy health services to Koreans, too. It's pretty serious.

Thanks.

[D.D.]

I think I was just over charged as well. I just wanted a basic blood test but was told I had to see a Dr. It came out to 109000 w just to see the Dr. and get my tests. The Dr. didn't even tell me anything I didn't already know or even do an exam. I was told university hospitals are more expensive. Considering that healthcare covered half the hospital made over 200000 w for a blood test.

[Trevor]

Did you find anyone at the hospital to complain to?

[Ilsanman]

Yes, health care here is in the 50's for a reason, behind many former Soviet bloc countries and most of Latin America.

[Trevor]

Well, the actual healthcare I received seemed to be okay. It was everything that went along with it. There were definitely some very troubling adminiustrative issues.

[dr. love]

There are ways to file a complaint over billing in a university hospital. 200 000 won is far too expensive for blood work. First, I would make sure that they registered your national medical insurance.

Visit the hospital again and ask to speak to the customer service team. Most larger hospitals will be able to give you an English breakdown of their bill.

If you need anymore help with this send me a pm and I'll try and give you some more advice.

[Trevor]

PM sent. Thanks.

[Lekker]

Foreigners are rich. We have lots of money, so "they" want to take it from us in any way they can, they will bow, smile, giggle, etc. Deep down, they are soju drenched nintendo DS playing wastes of life.

[Gamecock]

Yes, you got massively overcharged. I got comprehensive blood tests (they took 6 vials of my blood!), an EKG, and a urine test done for 60,000 won prior to my tonsillectomy at a university hospital.

Most hospitals here do not have an "English speaking liaison" at all. They usually just dig up the first person they can find who speaks mediocre English. It's probably not really his job at all. Every hospital I've been in here does not really know what to do with foreigners. It's always communicatively awkward. But I've always had them try very hard to help me. I would try speaking to your doctor at the hospital about the issue. Does he/she speak English? I've found that a doctor has the most pull to quickly get things accomplished in a hospital. It could be a simple billing mistake, or it could be someone filling their pockets.

If you have a hospital stay, you will pay a high price for a private room or a room with only two persons (70,000-120,000 per day, as opposed to 10,000 per day for sharing a room with many patients), and I've found that hospital administration will try to put you in a high-priced room unless you request otherwise.

[Trevor]

It sounds like the bloodwork was a ripoff, but exactly how that works...medical personnel such as phlebotomists don't have a button at their desks that they press when a foreigner walks in.

Anyway, I don't believe that I was treated differently than a Korean would be. I think my hospital gives crappy health services to everybody, regardless of race or nationality. In other words, I think it was an equal opportunity provider of crappy health care.

That being said, though, I still can't find a way to complain effectively in English. This mnorning I called the "English liaison" and politley asked her to review my bill and make sure it was correct. She called back this afternoon and said 30,000 Won was in error and I would be reimbursed.

A decent start

However, I was over charged about 700,000 won so we still have a way to go. I asked her what do Koreans do if they have a complaint. I did not get a clear answer.

And by the way, these issues are often far, far worse in The U.S. and other countries. I definitely don't feel that this is about the Korean helthcare system trying to screw foreigners, though I cannot speak for the person with the expensive blood tests.

[Chris_Dixon]

I got the full med test today, inc blood test, and it cost me 35,000 won


you def need to complain!

[ZenMoto]

There are several hospitals in Seoul with small "international clinics" that cater to foreigners...Here's the one by me.

Samsung Medical Center International Clinic
Gangnam
8:00 - 5:00 M - F
02-3410-0200

[ulsanchris]

A lot of doctors here are little more than money-hungry crooks. They over charge, over prescribe, for which they get kick backs for, and suggest unnecessary surgery. Twice I've had two different doctors recommend surgery for two different problems. Both times I didn't need it. Fortunately I knew some other doctors who were able to confirm my suspicions that I didn't need surgery. For the poster who had the tonsillectomy. Are you sure you needed it? As I understand it doctors don't even bother with it unless you have a serious problem with it continually re-occurring. I always check up what the doctor tells me with the mayo clinic website. Usually the Korean doctor's treatment is a few years out of date.
Even if a doctor doesn't cheat money out of his patients he is probably cheating the tax man. Like I said, a lot of doctors here are crooks.

[ZenMoto]