Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Knappstar]

Hey Guys,

When they say that you can get "Health Insurance" for $24 a month, what exactly does that amount to?

Is that just for emergency room visits and basic physicals, or does it cover more specialized doctors? There are a few prescription meds I take, and I'm wondering if they and the doctors visit will be covered under my insurance, or if I'm going to SOL in Korea.

Anyone have any more info on this?

Thanx

Andy

[oxfordstu]

I pay W50,000 for health insurance. It covers meds and doctor's visits, but nothing else. I think if I pay another 50k, it will cover more, but accident insurance is even more than that.

[gajackson1]

Andy ~

It all depends on WHO your insurance provider is. And if the premiums are actually being paid . . .

If you know, please tell us who the policy is with - if it is the National Insurance plan, you are in good shape.

Anything else, I would be leery of - when Christina had acute (emergency) appendicitis (requiring an appendectomy), NOTHING was covered!!!

Fair warning,

Glen

[jajdude]

For about 30,000 won per month I had about 70% off on doctor visits (to get prescriptions) and about 70% off paying for the stuff at the pharmacy. Not bad if you would otherwise spend 100,000 or more per month.

[fidel]

The standard Med insurance does not cover emergency room visits and you are required to shoulder the full cost. Neither does it cover tests/scans/overnight stays/childbirth blah blah blah.

What it does cover is doctor visits and cheap meds, not much else really.

[Newt14]

If you take meds regularlly get your doctor at home to give you the prescription for a year and fill it before you come. That way you do need to try and find the same drug here from a doctor that doesn't understand or says that the one he gives you is the same.

I always bring all my meds with me. In addition I bring over the counter stuff for colds and all my vitamins. Customs never checks. I did tell the doctor and pharamcist why I needed it so much and they made sure I had paperwork to give to customs if they asked. I think it was just the actually a photocopy prescription paper and the receipts.

Also if you run out of your drugs here you can still get them sent from home. If you have a long relationship with your doctor they should be able to call in or give the prescription to a familt member. I know my doctor will do it in a heart beat for me if my mom asked him.

To get drugs passed customs if mailed is a different problem. I have heard you can send them to the consulate(ehoever picks them up) with a doctors note. They will send them back to whoever you leave in charge with a stamp or something so that customs can't open it.

[fidel]

I personally wouldn't bother bringing over medicine with you in large quantities. You can get most if not all over-the-counter medicine you get back home at reputable pharmacists. In regards to prescription medicine, if you don't like the little bags of nondescript pills they give you, you can pay a small amount extra to get the packaged variety (which I do, as I like to know what I'm ingesting). Whatever meds you take back home will be found here. A word of advice, don't shop in the small drug stores, find a huge one located next to and preferably recommended by a large hospital.

Vitamins can be found in all large supermarkets/department stores etc. Especially with since the 'well being' craze that Korea is currently experiencing.

Postnote
If you have a serious illness/medical condition rather than going through all the problems that can be associated with getting a prescription of the medicine you want, take Newts advice and bring your medicine from home.