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Visiting Friend is Sick...No Health Insurance

 
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raulfd4



Joined: 04 Mar 2008

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:50 pm    Post subject: Visiting Friend is Sick...No Health Insurance Reply with quote

My buddy is here visiting in Korea. He isn't dying, but for over twenty-four hours he has been very nauseous and feverish. He hasn't been eating and has trouble holding down water. Symptoms aside, I want to take him to a doctor today or an emergency room to have him looked at.

What are my/his options considering the fact that he doesn't have health insurance?

What can I expect if I don't take him to the international clinic? Will any doctors at the emergency room speak English?

How much should he be expecting to spend on some mild healthcare/prescriptions?
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Synn057



Joined: 05 Jan 2009
Location: Here and There..... Metaphysically of course

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did he eat shellfish by any chance?

__Synn
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Ya-ta Boy



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
What are my/his options considering the fact that he doesn't have health insurance?


You'll pay 'full price' since he doesn't have insurance. You could hand the receptionist your insurance card when you check in. They may well not notice that it is your friend and not you who gets the treatment. As long as you don't make a point of your friend not matching the picture on the ARC, it shouldn't even be noticed.

Even if that scam doesn't work, full payment won't be all that much unless tests are done.

A LOT of doctors speak at least some English. Nurses not so much. If this isn't an emergency, try your nearest hospital.
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da_moler



Joined: 11 Nov 2006

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go to the Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu (아산병원 - Asan Pyong-won).

There is an excellent international clinic there with a doctor who is fluent in English and trained in the US.
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travelingfool



Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Location: Parents' basement

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

da_moler wrote:
Go to the Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu (아산병원 - Asan Pyong-won).

There is an excellent international clinic there with a doctor who is fluent in English and trained in the US.


I went to the Asan international clinic without insurance and it was 45,000 for the visit. The doctor spoke perfect English and was really helpful. Most international clinics will be about that much or even cheaper.
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dr. love



Joined: 09 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Even with out insurance the price will be reasonable. If cost is your concern, do not go to an emergency room. If you are in South Eastern Seoul I can arrange an appointment for you with an English speaking doctor.
just send me a pm
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polonius



Joined: 05 Jun 2004

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My firend's parents came to visit, he went to his local doc, for himself, and while he was there, he mentioned that his parents were having a couple issues. The doc said "Bring them in, I will look at them, and put it on your insurance." Now, that is a doc that we are close with. So, you could always try that, or, as someone else said, just send him in to see a doc with you insurance. Say he left his ARC at home.
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Straphanger



Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The ladies at the local international clinic told me that they actually didn't really need to see my insurance card in the first place (though they wanted it) because for just a doctor's consultation, it costs the same with or without insurance. Insurance is for like labs and junk.
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crossmr



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I went to the Asan international clinic without insurance and it was 45,000 for the visit. The doctor spoke perfect English and was really helpful. Most international clinics will be about that much or even cheaper.
Unless you saw a specialist you got ripped off.
Without insurance at seoul national university hospital the regular doctors are only like 15,000. Specialists are only like 35,000W.
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sojukettle



Joined: 23 Aug 2005
Location: Not there, HERE!

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had my young son visit recently and he developed an allergic rash which made him very uncomfortable ( screaming / crying etc) so took him to emergency clinic at the hospital by Express Bus Terminal. It was around 1am, so no time to look for other options.
Cost 104,000krw ( wouldn't accept him on my insurance) for consult and anti-histamine injection. ouch. - got a voucher for the car park tho'!

sk
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