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siseo
Joined: 01 Feb 2012
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 Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject: Medical care in Korea |
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I'm planning on going to Korea early next year, but I've been wondering about medical care. I have prescriptions here; what's the procedure for getting more prescriptions there? I also go off my parents' policy next year, so I won't be insured in the U.S., but I need health insurance for when I come home as well.
Does anyone have advice, or places I can go to find more information? Thanks! |
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eventually
Joined: 30 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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what i have had to do is go to the doctor (or in my case, hospital) and get a new prescription. find out if your prescription is here. not all meds in the US are in korea. mine isn't. so i'm on new meds, and i hate them.
another alternative is (depending how long you will be here) to bring a LOT of meds with you so you'll have plenty... but not sure how feasible that is. i have heard others suggest it. i take a pill once a day and am prone to losing/damaging my meds so it didn't seem the smart thing for me to try. good luck. |
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eventually
Joined: 30 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| advice i wish i would have heard before coming: talk to your doctor about what meds are available both in the US and here, so you can get his or her opinion on switching. i think my doctor doesn't really understand my condition (to be fair, either do i) so he's just blindly throwing darts in the dark by going off the same "family" of meds. it's like starting over -- even though i've had multiple tests run already in the US, he wants me to do more here so he can understand what is going on, etc. buh. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Medical care in Korea |
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| siseo wrote: |
I'm planning on going to Korea early next year, but I've been wondering about medical care. I have prescriptions here; what's the procedure for getting more prescriptions there? I also go off my parents' policy next year, so I won't be insured in the U.S., but I need health insurance for when I come home as well.
Does anyone have advice, or places I can go to find more information? Thanks! |
Emigrate from the US if you want affordable health care. 
All kidding aside, it would largely depend on what you are taking and what your condition is.
If you are talking about meds for asthma, ulcers, etc. then no worry. They are easy to get here, many are OTC and cheaper than in the states. A visit to the Dr. will cost you 5000 won if you have NHIC.
If you are talking about meds and care for mental health, epilepsy (schedule 1 restricted meds), etc. then it is a different story but care and control of your condition can be a serious issue.
If you are in a job that enrolls you in the NHIC then most minor problems and Dr. visits are cheap.
If you are at a typical hagwan with no insurance (in spite of what your contracts says) then you bear the full cost (but it is still a LOT cheaper than in the US).
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siseo
Joined: 01 Feb 2012
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:38 am Post subject: Re: Medical care in Korea |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Emigrate from the US if you want affordable health care.
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Believe me, were it not for my family, I totally would.
Thanks for the advice. I just wanted to start getting my stuff together while I have time. And it is for epilepsy, so someone's got to cooperate at least a little. |
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