Korean Job Discussion Forums

Loza · Joined: 28 May 2006

I need to buy health/ travel insurance to cover me on my flight to Korea (to start new contract) and until my Korean National Health Insurance starts. But when will I start being covered by Korean Nat. Health Insurance?

So how long should I buy my own insurance for? Or am I covered by Korean National Health Insurance from first day of my contract?

I've check FAQ and did a search but no luck.

Thanks.

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

You are covered from your very first day. Although, you won't get your insurance card until after you get your ARC card, which can take a couple weeks since you have to get a medical check done. If you do need to go to the hospital during this time, you will have to pay for everything up front. Once you get your insurance card, you can apply for a refund for whatever the insurance would've covered. But you need to keep your receipts for proof.

Loza · Joined: 28 May 2006

Thanks! That's extremely helpful! Very Happy

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject:

daniel-andersson · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Location: Seoul (but from Sweden)

Hi!

Does the nat Health Insurance also cover work me during the work time?

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:03 am Post subject:

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

Airlines sell travel insurance.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Actually, you aren't covered until your school administration office FILES THE PAPERWORK!!!!

My school admin was a month late, and when I got sick, there was no record of my health insurance in the clinic's computers. I called my school and the accountant said, "Oops, I didn't think you needed it that quickly."

Anyways, after the clinic talked with the admins, they said I'll have to pay full price, but after I get my card I can show them and they will refund me the difference.

A couple weeks later, I kept my receipt and showed them my health card. Sure enough, they refunded me the difference.

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:44 pm Post subject:

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

Yes, so don't put it off... get ye rear in gear and get the health insurance applied-for as early as possible, because they'll make you pay from the day you got your ARC (or entered the country-- can't remember which). Doesn't matter if you wait 6 months to get it and have no claims -- you'll still owe 6 months.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Yeah, they'll make you pay retroactively. But if you get sick between the time you arrive and the time your school registers you, you will have to pay the full price for your medical care. I know from experience on that one. And there is no way of getting them to let you pay later when you get your card or getting refunded later. I asked about that one.

So I would get travel insurance for a month or so just in case. Travel insurance isn't that expensive anyway.

Or you can take your chances, which is what most people do.

You can't apply for health coverage until you get your alien registration card, which usually takes about a month at most schools (they're slow with stuff like that most of the time).

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:53 am Post subject:

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I got someone to ask in Korean about whether I could get refunded later and they said it was impossible.

But you know how Korea is....it could have been that they were just too lazy to do whatever it takes to make it happen or they just give you a wrong answer rather than bother to check for the right one.