Korean Job Discussion Forums

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

I have a nasty toothache, therefore I should probably go to the dentist for the first time since I've entered the country more than a year and a half ago.

This is the first time I've gone to the dentist here, so don't mind the newbieness of it.

Basically, does my public school insurance cover any aspect of this?

Can I go to any dentist office and walk-in? Or should I have my school call and make an appointment?

Also, I don't have an insurance card... my school never gave me one. They said just to show my ARC. Is that alright? (Also, I've never needed to go to the hospital here before except to get stitches once and it only cost W40,000).

TheChickenLover · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Location: The Chicken Coop

Root Canals are covered by NHIC. You MUST have a card to get coverage though. I had a 6 hour surgery and it cost me $40 (yes 40) after all was done (crowns are NOT covered..a porcelain cost me $260).

If your school hasn't given you a health card, there is a strong chance you are not registered and will have to pay the full price. I would suggest you go NOW to your boss & state you need it immediately since the pain is making it impossible for you to work.

Then take a good look at his face and watch the squirming begin. Smile

Chicken

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

I talked to my boss and he called whatever department he needed to call, and they said that I definitely had all the health insurance they're required to give me on my ARC card. I was told to tell the dentist my school's name when I went there, and that they would take care of it.

I guess I'll just go to a dentist and find out. They're letting me go an hour early today to take care of it.

My first class was terrible this morning because it hurt to talk, and of course, when I asked my co-teacher to take over I got two sentences out of her before it was all up to me again Crying or Very sad

...So 40 minutes of me lecturing and pausing to make pain sounds.

TheChickenLover · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Location: The Chicken Coop

If you are suffering from pain while you talk, you can take a sick day to get it sorted. An hour off isn't going to help you since you'll be in surgery for a few hours and the dentist may want to go home and not keep you till 9pm.

I would be heading out the door seeking emergency medical now or you'll have to suffer until the week-end while on some heavy pain killers.

Chicken

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

WARNING

Korean dentists make a lot of money by insisting that people must remove their amalgum (silver) fillings and replace them with gold (not covered by insurance). They also push for root canal work where it may not be needed.

Shop around for a good dentist here. If they say they won't do amalgum because it causes cancer, what they're really saying is that they don't make enough money off of it.

The American Dental Association considers amalgum safe.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I don't understand why your boss won't give you your health card if you are in fact registered. They would have sent him the card when he registered you...what's the big deal about giving it to you? It's yours!

There's something fishy here.

I'll bet you that you are not registered at all, and your boss figures it is cheaper to pay out of his own pocket if something comes up rather than pay money every month for coverage. He probably called the dentist and worked out a deal with them...which is why he wants you to give them your school's name when you visit.

If you don't have medical insurance...you probably don't have pension either.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

buymybook · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride

bodybydada · Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Location: Jinju

i agree with those people who said OP is probably not insured or receiving a pension. You are entitled to these by law, regardless of what is or is not in your contract.

as for how to broach the subject with your employer and get what's yours, I have no advice to give. I had a similar problem, and the forthright tactics I used resulted in my getting fired, which was ok with me at the time. So, if you really like your job, you may want to give it some thought before doing anything as Koreans generally don't like being called out on something.

The issue should not be ignored, either. The pension is especially important if you're American or Canadian, not so important if you're BRitish, and definitely worth avoiding if possible if you're kiwi, as they have no reciprocity agreement with ROK and thus employees piss their deductions away.

tired of LA · Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

jadarite · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject:

Bread · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

sweetiesmith · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Location: Bucheon

No dentist in Korea use the white(tooth color) fillings? They have to either be silver or gold? Sorry I am new to this and I am looking to get a filling.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

I went to the dentist on Saturday and started having a root canal and a replacement filling done.

The dentist said the National Health Insurance would cover it... but as far as I know, I don't have that. My PS stuck to it's "we're not giving you a card but call us if you go to the dentist / doctor" thing. I guess I don't really care so long as it gets paid.

I'm not paying until my next appointment.

Some people said I might not be getting a pension, but I have started getting pension receipts from the beginning of my pay enrolment, so I am "registered."

What should I be paying before insurance? After?

Thanks.