Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Brian25]

I graduate this spring and I am very intrigued by the idea of teaching English in South Korea. I want to start early 2012. However, one thing concerns me about coming to South Korea.

I had a curable form of cancer that I beat in 2008 and I still have to have routine cat scans every 4 months for 2 more years and meet with my oncologist. I am sure he would be fine with me just having the cat scans sent to him, because our meetings don't really include check ups, they're just him talking about the scans.

The two issues I am concerned about however are the following:

Will it hurt my job prospects?

If so, can I just stay on my parent's American healthcare plan and just use that to cover the cost of cat scans in Korea, so my employers don't have to?




I don't want to forgo my parents plan because after say doing a year of teaching and if I decide to come home from Korea I don't want to pay an even higher price for health insurance, because of my preexisting condition.

I know this is a bit long winded, but if anyone has any experience or help on this subject, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

[Caffeinated]

Congratulations for beating cancer.

I know the job application for public schools in Seoul asks, "Have you had any minor/serious injuries or diseases in the past five years?" It's up to your discretion if you mention your bout with cancer at all. Others haven't disclosed that they take anti-depressants, for example, for fear that it would hurt their application.

If you do get a job in Korea you should be covered under the national health insurance plan. It won't cover all your medical expenses, however. And unless you choose to tell your employers, they shouldn't find out what you discuss with medical professionals here in Korea.

If you can still be covered under your parents' healthcare plan while out of the country, do so.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

[redaxe]

Are you from the U.S.? How old are you?

If you're on your parents' healthcare as a dependent you can stay that way until you're 26. But Korean hospitals won't accept your insurance for pre-certification. You would need to pay out of pocket, do all the paperwork yourself and mail it back to your insurance company in the states and have them reimburse you for medical expenses.

[Brian25]

[Dazed and Confused]

I have a prexisting condition as well. While it is not cancer it does need yearly monitoring. I use my Korean National Health Insurance and it covers all the testing just fine. I've never had a problem with my employer nor has it in anyway been an issue
You can go ahead and keep your parents insurance but you don't need to use it to pay for your scans here. They are actually quite cheap and you can ask for a copy to send back to your oncologist.

[Brian25]

[hellofaniceguy]

You know...it's all very very simple........DADT.
It's all fine and dandy that you want to do the right thing, seek advice, etc...but some things are best not to be shared....koreans do not respect others privacy or personal affairs.
DADT.

[Brian25]

[Caffeinated]

[karri]

I agree with the just don't mention it. But I am of the mind that my job need not know everything about me.

If you plan to go this route I would suggest getting a job in a bigger city or in a city that is easily connected to the big cities.

The whole medical confidentiality thing doesn't really exist here. While living in a small town there was a foreign woman who was congratulated on her pregnancy by someone on the street.

Also in bigger cities you will have easier access to English speaking medical staff who you can explain the situation to. Full hospital services are usually available on weekends, so you shouldn't even need to tell work.

Just my 2 cents if you choose to not disclose your medical history.

[bentobento]

Hey Brian, you and I are in the same boat. My condition was easily cured as well and I chose to state my circumstance. I made sure to say that I'm perfectly healthy now. I have an interview tonight with my recruiter so we'll see what ends up happening. (I would think it's fine since it seems I made it through initial screening?) I'd prefer not keeping something like that under wraps, but that's my personal choice.

[nathanrutledge]

The Korean National Health Plan does not cover cancer. It is really more of a discount plan. My friend needed a CAT scan just last week on his knee. His wife works at a University with a hospital, and even with the 50% discount from the hospital, it cost 700k won to scan both knees.

Also, how are you on your parents plan? If you're a student, that's one thing, but you'll be graduating, right? Won't you be kicked off of the plan?

I would think long and hard about coming here. If you're cured, that's one thing. But if you want to continue to get CAT scans, that'll add up fast. Scans every 4 months for two years, 6 scans at 700k a scan, you're looking at 2 months salary for those scans (assuming that you get a single scan and it costs the same as CAT scanning a knee does).

I'd do some serious research into how you'll pay for this stuff, because again, cancer is not covered and the National Plan here doesn't work like western insurance. It's a discount plan.

[Brian25]

[Brian25]

[Brian25]

Just an update for anyone who is in a similar situation to mine, I contacted my insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and I can remain on the plan till I am 30, even without being in school, pending I am living at home.

I would not be covered overseas by their plan for preventative measures, only for emergencies such as heart attacks, and that wouldn't matter if I moved over there because they would not allow me to stay on the plan.

However, the lady told me in a round about way, as long as my parents make no mention of me being overseas and I cover my medical expenses(hopefully just one cat scan), they will not know/do anything.

She also encouraged me to go lol.