Korean Job Discussion Forums

[napoleon8]

If you sign up on the Korean national health insurance plan (NHIC), do you have to take a medical exam? I know that some insurance companies in some countries require it. Don't know about here. Anyone know?

[J.B. Clamence]

The first time I got a health card (2003) an exam was not necessary, but the second time (2005) it was. I think they started requiring it after the Sars epidemic. Unless something has changed in the past year, an exam is necessary, but it's not very thorough apart from drawing blood.

[jacl]

Unless your a granpa, I say screw the health insurance. It's just 2.24 percent of your salary wasted. Might as well roll up 50 bucks/month, light it and watch it burn. Maybe light your smoke with it.

Mandatory health insurance. What a joke. Like your boss wants to pay half of that. Only if you didn't check and then he/she could steal that much from you. Ha. Some people might need it though. I sure as hell don't. And really, what does the NHI provide? Sounds likea big mystery to me. I even think that the government is breaking the law if they make you pay. Just another Korean scam to make up for the Korean mistake of the pension plan which is stupid, but good for me. Or something like that. Maybe the left hand doesn't know what the right hand's doing. "Oooh! I have an idea! Let's make foreigners pay health insurance!" "Ok! Good idea! You get a promotion!" Who knows? I'm most likely way off base.

[BigBlackEquus]

I got the health insurance again this year, and was not required to take a health test due to the insurance itself (keep in mind, I have been renewing as a healthy individual for some time). As a new person, I think you might have to take a test now, which includes peeing in a cup and giving blood.

I had to get a test done for my school this year, and they did the above plus some other stuff. I was given a semi-extensive printout of all of the results a few weeks later. My coworker found out he had liver issues, which he had no idea of before. I asked if they check for AIDS and drugs, and they said it would definately show up as a part of the battery of tests.

[Col.Brandon]

jacl, you might be young and healthy, but that won't save you from being taken out on the pedestrian crossing by some moron. 6 weeks in traction will do wonders for your bank balance.

[Gwangjuboy]

I wasn't aware that there was a mandatory health check for NHI applicants. I have never experienced one. It's quite odd that they test for AIDS because a postive result would mean immediate deportation thus you wouldn't be benefiting from the NHI scheme anyway. I know some public schools insist on their foreign teachers having a health check but that is dependant on the headteacher asking you to undertake one. I suspect that those who have undergone a health test were made to do so by their headmaster bearing no relation to the NHI scheme itself. My headmaster has never asked me to take one.

[crazylemongirl]

[howie2424]

I got my NHIC for the first time 3 months ago. No physical, if that helps.

[dharma bum]

anybody know how long it takes for certain bob marley-related substances to become undetectable on the test?

[peppermint]

takes 30 days to get out of the bloodstream. but if they do a hair test, you're screwed.

[jacl]

[pest1]

[jacl]

[hogwonguy1979]