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Muffin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Location: Turkey
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:03 pm Post subject: How long did you wait for your medical insurance card? |
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This is my fifteenth week and I still haven't seen mine! My original school was sold in my third week so of course that director had not bothered to sort out anything for me, but the new owners have had twelve weeks to sort it! Money was deducted from my salary last month but I still don't have it. One of my directors is taking me to the doctor this week (his idea, not mine) so perhaps they will finally realise they have to do something about it! I have reminded them many times and my director always says 'yes I must sort that out'.
Is this unusual? |
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Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| It's actually not important to have the 'card' (really just a photocopied piece of paper in a cheap plastic case) in your hand when you go to the doctor. It makes things easier, but it's not absolutely necessary. You should be in the system (if they are taking money out) and the doctor might be able to call you up with your alien card number. |
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Maxboss
Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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With respect to Novernae you have no proof that they actually have bothered to get the insurance for you.
If they have done it a health card and number would have been issued. I had to do it myself for one of my jobs and while I needed help from a Korean it was very, very easy and only took a week. I had to give in my change of address ( as the address on my ID was my old address) to the local health insurance office. They sent me out a bill for 3 months in advance. (Foreigners usually have to pay ina advance). I had to pay the bill and fax them the receipt. Then they sent me out the card.
If they haven't done it for you they are dicking around. As far as I know they have to provide it by law. Get in touch with efl.org to confirm this. They could probably tell you how to pressure them to do it.
Don't let it slip. It's one of the few things that the employers have to do for the teacher. |
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Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Maxboss wrote: |
| With respect to Novernae you have no proof that they actually have bothered to get the insurance for you. |
You're right, you have no 'proof' that they have bothered to get you insurance, but then again, you have no proof that you will be paid, or that you won't be fired for no reason. Knowing that no previous teachers at my school have had problems and giving my boss copies of my alien card so she can fill out the forms is enough 'proof' for me. I don't really want to spend all my time in Korea worrying about how I will be cheated by my employers, so until I find out something to the contrary, I will believe they are on the up and up.
All I was saying was that once you begin to work, since, legally, you must be covered by NHI, you can start to use it. Some doctors accept the alien card as proof enough. Others might make you pay the full amount, but you can have this reimbursed. Once you set yourself up with a doctor, you will be in their system.
If you have a bad employer, then of course you will run into problems, and should probably try to confirm your coverage. If your employer follows the law, then you should be covered from day one, even if you haven't received your 'card' yet.
(edited to clarify) |
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seoulsista
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I've still never recieved mine but I have been to the doctors once and the dentist once and used my ARC card both times. Should work for anyone. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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But without it, you don't get the discount for the medical services right? I would wait for the card if you can. That way you save the 50%.
Sody |
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Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:27 am Post subject: |
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| You can get the discount (more like 70%) but I don't think all doctors will give it to you without the card itself. You can, however, get a refund for the extra you pay. |
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diablo3
Joined: 11 Sep 2004
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:25 am Post subject: |
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well, the delay of getting insurance is not unusual, many teachers go without it because directors simply do not pay, and take no action to pay, just use words with empty promises.
Your director knows it takes one or two days to get it, and 1 week the most (due to delays or something). |
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Muffin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Location: Turkey
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:23 am Post subject: |
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An update. I am definitely not in the system so my Alien Card will be no good. My director admitted that although the school deducted money last month they failed to pay any towards the insurance or put me on the computer system.
He says they will do it tomorrow (a promise I have heard so many times) and it will take about 10 days. I called the other director who wanted to take me to the doctors and told him I would wait as I had already paid for insurance and was not paying twice.
He tried to persuade me to go, and said even without insurance it would only cost between ten and fifteen thousand won, is this true? I continued to refuse as I think the company should offer to pay as it is their fault I have no insurance.
I am not at all comfortable anyway going to the doctor with a male director even to discuss something routine. He more or less forbade me to go to a doctor without him! What is he afraid of? Is he being kind and responsible (in which case why didn't he make sure I had my insurance) or is he being controlling? |
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ilovebdt

Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Just to add, my friend thought she had health insurance. The money was deducted each month from her salary and she even had the card, but when she went to the doctors she wasn't on the system
ilovebdt |
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kiwigirl :O)
Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Bundang
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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4 months (almost into month 5) and counting......
i was sick a month ago and went to the doctor with a korean friend and they let me use her card to visit 5,000 (dr fee) and 4,000 prescription for a cocktail of things...they gave me tylenol to battle exhaustion and fatigue???
btw why is the other name for rooster beeped when combined with a type of drink ending in tail????  |
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Muffin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Location: Turkey
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:55 am Post subject: |
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Update: Got mine this morning After my firm talk, my director really moved and I am already booked in for an operation Monday morning! |
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