Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buffalosgomoo]

My husband and I are looking to move to South Korea sometime next year, but we both take some prescription medication. How does that work in SK? How would we be able to get refills on our prescriptions? Thanks!

[tob55]

Most communities have an excellent public health services for foreigners. the local 보건소 (Public Health Center) will provide foreigners with free services, and depending on the prescription, you can either get it free or at drastically reduced prices. My foreign friends go to our local Center regularly and pay practically nothing for diabetes meds and such. People who have psychotropic meds for other health related disorders will do better to visit a professional at a local hospital and pay through the regular 약국 (Pharmacy). The costs can be expensive depending on what you get, but in many cases still cheaper than what you would pay back in the home country if you had no insurance coverage for medications. Hope you enjoy your stay and good luck.

[buffalosgomoo]

Do you think that we should bring a prescription with us and have it filled at one of the Public Health Centers or just go straight to an actual clinic?

[tob55]

[buffalosgomoo]

Thank you for your help!

[tob55]

Most foreign workers are unaware of the benefit available to them concerning free health care. A few years ago before obtaining my dual citizenship I began going to the public health center out of a need to cut costs for health care when normal things like cold and flu were a concern for me. Then there was a marginal fee for services, but soon after I realized they changed so that foreigner received full pay for the services.

It is still not like back in the States where a doctor visit to a local clinic will cost anywhere between $50 ~ $100 just to be seen. The public health center visits for me now as a Korean citizen are only a few dollars equivalent money for KRW. The prescriptions for normal things are much shorter in days, but again the cost if much less too. For example, a 3 ~ 5 day prescription costs around $2 ~ $3. That is terrific if you are a generally healthy person.

I think my friend with diabetes gets his meds for under $30 a month for what he needs. Of course he and his wife have other medical situations requiring them to go to the regular hospital and be seen so the meds are quite a bit more expensive for them regarding those medications.

Anyway, I think you have an idea of what I am talking about. I hope it works out well for you and your spouse. Cheers