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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:14 pm Post subject: Health Insurance |
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I have a few questions about health insurance. At the moment, I don't have it, and I've been here for two months, and I don't know the general cost. I also wanted to know if one is supposed to have a special insurance card I.D.? Is insurance provincial based or national-based?
Thanks in advance.... |
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kat2
Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Location: Busan, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Its a national program. You do get an ID card. You are required by law to be enrolled. Its dirt cheap (at least compared to what I pay in America). maybe in the 30,000 range. I can't remember exactly. |
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alabamaman
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Health Insurance |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
I have a few questions about health insurance. At the moment, I don't have it, and I've been here for two months, and I don't know the general cost. I also wanted to know if one is supposed to have a special insurance card I.D.? Is insurance provincial based or national-based?
Thanks in advance.... |
http://www.nhic.or.kr/wbe/faq/faq.html |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Health Insurance |
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| alabamaman wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
I have a few questions about health insurance. At the moment, I don't have it, and I've been here for two months, and I don't know the general cost. I also wanted to know if one is supposed to have a special insurance card I.D.? Is insurance provincial based or national-based?
Thanks in advance.... |
http://www.nhic.or.kr/wbe/faq/faq.html |
I can't look at that link. It doesn't work or maybe the internet cafe doesn't allow access. I read somewhere I have to go and apply somewhere to get it. I can't rely on my boss for that it seems she is clueless about it. She never mentioned it to me when I came. I brought it up. One of my friends at another hagwon doesn't have a health insurance card. My Korean co-worker was clueless as well. I asked him if I needed some kind of health card and he said no. Is there a certain number I can call in Korea that can offer me assistance on this matter? I do want health insurance.
Do I need to find this branch of the National Health Insurance Corporation and how would I find it in Cheonan?
2) Application Process
Apply at the branch of the National Health Insurance Corporation in your area of residence. Submit a copy of your Alien Registration Card or your report of domestic residence. If you have income relating to your status of sojourn you should submit documentation confirming this. Students must submit proof of enrollment. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: Health Insurance |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| alabamaman wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
I have a few questions about health insurance. At the moment, I don't have it, and I've been here for two months, and I don't know the general cost. I also wanted to know if one is supposed to have a special insurance card I.D.? Is insurance provincial based or national-based?
Thanks in advance.... |
http://www.nhic.or.kr/wbe/faq/faq.html |
I can't look at that link. It doesn't work or maybe the internet cafe doesn't allow access. I read somewhere I have to go and apply somewhere to get it. I can't rely on my boss for that it seems she is clueless about it. She never mentioned it to me when I came. I brought it up. One of my friends at another hagwon doesn't have a health insurance card. My Korean co-worker was clueless as well. I asked him if I needed some kind of health card and he said no. Is there a certain number I can call in Korea that can offer me assistance on this matter? I do want health insurance.
Do I need to find this branch of the National Health Insurance Corporation and how would I find it in Cheonan?
2) Application Process
Apply at the branch of the National Health Insurance Corporation in your area of residence. Submit a copy of your Alien Registration Card or your report of domestic residence. If you have income relating to your status of sojourn you should submit documentation confirming this. Students must submit proof of enrollment. |
The web-sites(although it looks like they're down at the moment - try again later) are:
http://www.nhic.or.kr (show your boss...she's the one who should be doing this stuff for you anyway)
http://www.nhic.or.kr/wbe/index.html
You should have 2.24% of your base salary withheld from your pay each month for the national plan. Your boss matches it. Yes, you get a health card. You should probably also check and see if she has you registered for the pension plan.
http://www.nps4u.or.kr
http://www.nps4u.or.kr/eng/g-index.html
And, tax.
http://www.nts.go.kr
http://www.nts.go.kr/eng/default.html
Show her the Korean links. Maybe she'll get the hint then.
Anyway, I've not had to do it myself before. Some of the info you posted looks good. You may also have to provide a medical certificate/physical depending on where you work. The Korean site has all the offices from what I recall as well as a contact number...but the English site definitely doesn't have any number(forget whether the locations are there or not). Wait till the site is back up and get what you need from it then. |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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Your boss is playing dumb because it will cost her money. They have to match what you pay. It is 2.4 per cent of your monthly salary.
Bet you aren't contributing to the National Pension Fund either, which is also mandatory. You both pay 4.5 per cent of your monthly salary into this. But if you're from North America you get it all back when you leave Korea.
A lot of hogwan directors don't want to pay medical insurance because the pension kicks in when they sign you up. It costs too much money so they will sometimes do everything they can to avoid it. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Big Mac wrote: |
Your boss is playing dumb because it will cost her money. They have to match what you pay. It is 2.4 per cent of your monthly salary.
Bet you aren't contributing to the National Pension Fund either, which is also mandatory. You both pay 4.5 per cent of your monthly salary into this. But if you're from North America you get it all back when you leave Korea.
A lot of hogwan directors don't want to pay medical insurance because the pension kicks in when they sign you up. It costs too much money so they will sometimes do everything they can to avoid it. |
So far, I haven't paid taxes. I brought that up with the boss. I said I need to pay my Korean taxes, and I want health insurance. But to be honest, in a way I don't think she knows these matters well. She does know she has to pay a portion of it. What is this medical certificate. What does that involve? I have a minor hernia would that exclude me from health insurance. I know in the U.S. it would and they call it a pre-existing condition.
Thanks for those links... I will look them all up come Tuesday. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
So far, I haven't paid taxes. I brought that up with the boss. I said I need to pay my Korean taxes, and I want health insurance. But to be honest, in a way I don't think she knows these matters well. She does know she has to pay a portion of it. What is this medical certificate. What does that involve? I have a minor hernia would that exclude me from health insurance. I know in the U.S. it would and they call it a pre-existing condition.
Thanks for those links... I will look them all up come Tuesday. |
The last two places(middle school and uni) I worked required me to have it done during the application process. The hakwon where I worked before then was also trying to get me to do it, but I refused as I knew I was on my last year with them, and I had no difficulty because of it. I basically refused because it was the first time any place was telling me that if I didn't, the health people would fine me or sth...I thought they were lying. It was also the first place that was trying to force me to do it. Legally, I think they were correct though. Here's what was involved for me the first time:
- height, weight, and blood pressure check.
- eye acuity and colour-blindness check.
- chest x-ray.
- brief dental check.
- EKG.
- piss on a strip(drugs I think).
- blood work(Hep A/B, cholesterol, others, maybe HIV/AIDS?)
I think that's all. The second time, they didn't give me the dental check or the EKG. Cost was 30,000 both times. I had to bring a couple of photos each time, too (They may or may not require this - I think I had to slap one on the application form the first time and the form came back with the info and my pic was affixed to the upper left portion of the form. Maybe they kept the second one on file. I think that for the most recent one that they didn't ask for the pics. Sorry, can't remember.) Maybe the minor hernia won't be an issue? In all honesty, the only people I saw the whole time both times were technicians and nurses...not one doc. If however the hernia issue did come up you would likely have to get another note from a doc to go with the original form stating that though you have a slight hernia, it should not prevent you from performing your work duties. Don't ask about having the physical done unless they request it. Bring the other things you mentioned(ARC, passport, contract/pay stub). Site's still down. |
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jacl
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| Card? I never got a card. Only a white booklet. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 5:45 am Post subject: |
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| Sorry, a little booklet. |
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kat2
Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Location: Busan, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| WHy do they make the booklet such an impossible size to carry around? And if you are on a family plan, you only get one per family. I hope if I am in a taxi accicdent, I'm well enough to go home and grab my booklet before I go to the hospital! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| ksonnen wrote: |
| WHy do they make the booklet such an impossible size to carry around? And if you are on a family plan, you only get one per family. I hope if I am in a taxi accicdent, I'm well enough to go home and grab my booklet before I go to the hospital! |
We are on the family plan and we have a booklet for both my wife and myself.
You are right. It would be so much more convenient if it was a card instead the booklet. |
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r.
Joined: 06 May 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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So I won't get a card if I don't pass all of these checks? I have one major pre-existing condition and may not pass a drug test.
This worries me because I need to see a dermatologist quickly. I assume I can see a dr. without health insurance. DOes anyone know the price of a standard dr. appt.? |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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You dont need a check-up to register with national health insurance. I dont believe pre-existing conditions are an issue either.
Public schools & uni's tend to require annual or biannual medical exams (not just us -- all their employees). Never heard of it in a hagwon.
The piss on a strip routine has nothing to do with drugs. Its looking for diabetes, blood in your urine, & a couple other conditions. |
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heydelores
Joined: 24 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I have a pre-existing condition that make it hard for me to get medical insurance in the US. They never asked any questions about my medical history when I signed up for the national plan here. |
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