Korean Job Discussion Forums

marista99 · Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Location: Incheon

Would there be any point to keeping (and paying for) my American health insurance plan once I'm in Korea and on the Korean national plan? I don't have any special medical conditions that require a lot of doctor visits, but I do take a prescription medication every day (and I know the mediciation is available over the counter in Korea). How good is the Korean insurance for day-to day stuff? How about for major emergencies? Can hospitals in Seoul handle pretty much anything, or would there be some situations in which it would be necessary to be airlifted to Japan or someplace (I'm talking big time, life or death emergencies here)? Would Korean insurance cover that?

How do all of you Americans handle your insurance coverage? Do you have additional "travelers insurance" or anything, or do you use the Korean insurance only?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice you all might have on this subject!

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

In my opinion, drop your American health insurance.

Most employers here pay 1/2 of the health insurance cost, leaving you to pay W35,000 to W40,000 a month. They will give you a booklet to carry that you show to the receptionist when you visit a doctor. I don't remember exact figures, but the insurance covers a lot of the cost of medical tests. I think it is worth it.

Medical care here is reasonable if you are not expecting top of the line American service.

Since you say you are healthy and can get your medication over the counter, I'd say relax. As long as you look both ways before you cross the street, eat your vegetables and fruit, get regular sleep and wear your mittens in the winter, you will be OK.

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

the hospitals here are good..

what does your insurance cover? the korean insurance doesn't cover everything, for example, fighting, ultrasounds are not covered and they can be very selective with which drugs are covered.. my 2nd last trip to hospital the morphine was covered, however, my last trip it was not.. 200 US bucks on morphine is a bit of a joke..

anything serious the hospitals in seoul can handle.. there are also a bunch of foreign doctors here..

it might be wise to hold onto your insurance but it is no biggie if you don't...

there is no discount on 'over the counter medicine' but there is if you get a prescription..

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

actually the korean insurance cover only a small portion of the bill... at an average maybe 30% and that could be a generous average at that

marista99 · Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Location: Incheon

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

anyway... i think it is just 'over the counter' and 'script' drugs...

i am not 100% but i am pretty sure that if it doesn't need a script.. it doesn't need a script and there is no discount

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��

If your current health insurance is cheap and covers you internationally, then you may want to keep it for travelling around asia. The Korean national insurance doesn't cover anything outside of the country.

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

If you can't find a particular drug, it doesn't mean it isn't available. Maybe if you asked for the generic name, you'd be more successful. It's also possible the pharmacy may not be carrying it. or that it's prescription medication. I know this sounds stupid, but maybe you aren't thinking like a Korean: you will get ibuprofen if you ask for 'propin' (don't you know Koreans have the tendency to contract words?). They come in pink sugar-coated tablets. Several Korean manufacturers produce them.

Korean health insurance also covers more than 20%. You pay 3000won for a visit to the doctor and the insurance pays 5000 won. Dental care is also covered.

As for the cost of health insurance, if your half is 40000 won per month, or even 35000, you're probably being ripped off (although I don't think it's worth fussing about). I pay 20000 per month for my half, but it must be a group rate because of the large number of employees where I work. My wife is being taxed 67000 won per month for hers because we have a couple of businesses in her name (I'm considering canceling mine since we only need one per family).

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��

This reminds me. A couple years back, my girlfriend at the time was feeling sick. We walked into a �౹ and she described her symptoms to the pharmacist. He sold her a small pouch of pills. When I looked at the pills, it was ibuprofen.

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

well.. my buddy (irish, fluent korean) is the director of a hospital... i asked him, he asked the doctor who said they were not available, along with 1 other hospital in gwangju, 1 in mokpo and 2 in suncheon... i have not been able to get them...

being that the books the doctors use for drug names are in english there should be no need to contract anything as it is spelled out in front of them..

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i'm sorry.. i make an error and i will admit to it..

it was not ibuprofen that i couldn't get, it was indomethican..

basically the same drug but stronger

i am on the phone now to my buddy and will get back to you with a clear answer shortly.

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��