Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Dental insurance?

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
jjajangmyun



Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: way down south!

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:33 am    Post subject: Dental insurance? Reply with quote

I had some pain in my molars the past few days so I went to a dentist today who did an x-ray and revealed a huge frickin pool of abscess underneath one of my teeth! After going through a long but thorough explanation (in English!) about what was going on in my mouth, he quoted me at a grand total of up to W7,650,000 for all the work that needs to be done!

Here's what I need. I don't doubt what he said, as I'm sure the situation is pretty bad, but the price made me nearly hit the floor.

-4 tooth extractions (2 wisdom teeth and 2 molars) @ 150,000 each = 600,000
-2 Implants with crown (Cheapest is 1,500,000 per implant, and highest is 3,000,000) = 3,000,000 - 6,000,000
-Bonegraft (2 sides @ 500,000 each) = 1,000,000
-Scaling = 50,000
Total: Between W4,650,000 - 7,650,000

Shocked And they're pushing really hard for me to go with the expensive implants (from Sweden. They kept mentioning that...)

So, I guess the question that I have is:

Where can I find an insurance plan that will help me minimize the hurt to my wallet? I work for a hagwon that does NOT provide any health or dental insurance and when I brought it up with them, they kind of brushed it off, saying "none of the other teachers have ever needed it." So I think the only option left to me is finding some kind of private insurance plan that can help cover as much of this as humanly possible.

I could have paid the 7.6 million had I held onto the money instead of paying off student loans, but I honestly had no idea my teeth were in such crap condition. So now I'm trying to find any and all options before having to burden my parents with this. Help!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger
Porksta



Joined: 05 May 2011

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't think any hagwon insurance covers dental. That being said, I don't think many insurance companies cover preexisting conditions.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jjajangmyun



Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: way down south!

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

that sucks. so i'm out of luck?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger
tatu



Joined: 23 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't say you are out of luck but I would highly recommend getting a second opinion. Not sure what area you got the quote but I have heard of huge differences in prices depending on the area of Seoul or Korea you are in. Might want to try a dentist in the suburbs or smaller city...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nathanrutledge



Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

tatu wrote:
I wouldn't say you are out of luck but I would highly recommend getting a second opinion. Not sure what area you got the quote but I have heard of huge differences in prices depending on the area of Seoul or Korea you are in. Might want to try a dentist in the suburbs or smaller city...


This.

I had a friend who had a couple of root canals and fillings, and a couple of extractions and while it was expensive, it wasn't nearly what you're talking about. Heck, even back home in the US when I had my wisdom teeth out (4 of them) it was only a little over 1000$ (and it was a surgery - general anesthesia, wake up with missing teeth kind of thing).

DEFINITELY shop around.

I had a talk with my gf about this - ever notice how pretty much EVERY Korean has one gold or silver tooth? Well, something about the national insurance and what it covers, etc, leads to most Koreans going with the gold tooth as opposed to getting a porcelain tooth. There are some definite financial shenanigans with insurance/dentistry in this country, so do some research.

As far as additional coverage goes, Porksta nailed it - pre-existing conditions are a no-go.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
RUBRUBBURNER



Joined: 04 Jul 2011

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

it seems to me they're trying to have you.
find another dentist.
i had one here tell me, "you're teeth are very healthy, but you have cavities in every tooth." he then pretended to fill a cavity in the tooth i came about (he barely brushed my tooth with a drill, didn't even consider anaesthetic and pasted some resin over it to make it less sensitive) and charged me a couple hundred bucks.
i went to another dentist a few weeks later and she said i didn't have a single cavity and it was evident my teeth were sensitive because i had been brushing too hard.
anyway... go see another dentist before you spend a fortune and subject yourself to all that.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jjajangmyun



Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: way down south!

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok I'm def going to get another opinion.

He seemed like sucha nice guy too...

Btw the place I went to was called New York Columbia Dental in Itaewon. The doctor spoke great English.

Also insurance sounds like a no go so the best i can do is find the best dental clinic that won't overcharge me. If the sum total comes out to around 4 grand, that's definitely more manageable.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger
Swampfox10mm



Joined: 24 Mar 2011

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

She's a little bit pricey on some work, but she's so far been pretty honest about what REALLY needs to be done:

http://www.tuftsdental.net/

Get a 2nd opinion here!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
big_fella1



Joined: 08 Dec 2005

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The national health insurance only covers very basic dental anyway and further dental insurance is unavailable even to Koreans.

You need to shop around, I have found most medical people in Korea speak some English so don't just stick to the ones that advertise in English.

I have heard that some unregistered dentists operate for about 75% of what the registered ones charge, but I doubt they would treat a foreign customer or that you would want to go there anyway.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International