Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yesterday · Last edited by Yesterday on Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:44 am; edited 1 time in total

OK - I will try get straight to the point....

Been here (in Korea) about 6 years.......

I HAVE NEVER had any medical insurance thoughout that time....

(yeah, I know thats foolish - but I was young & healthy when I first came here - and I saved money on not getting it - never been sick - besides that none of my schools ever wanted to give it to me)........

anyway - now I have just gone past 30 years of age, and decided that as I am gaining weight etc etc (and getting older and planning on staying - who knows how many more years?) - to finally get the medical insurance...

well - I cannot get it through my schools/company as I work only p-t as a teacher.......

so I went to my local NHIC office - they assumed I had just arrived in korea and told me to pay UP-font 150,000won then 48,000 won each month thereafter.......

thats fine with me....

BUT THEN they check my ID on their computer and realise I have been here for 6 years......

so they CHANGE their story and tell me that its law - if a korean or foreigner has been in the country 3 years or MORE without insurance - they have to pay a minimum of 3 years payments JUST TO JOIN....

so for a female (cheaper 35,000 X 36 months) = 1,260,000 won to join

for a male (more of course 50,000 X 36 months) = 1,800,000 won to join (who ever said males had it better?)

(discount if you are female, or you came here to PREACH religion)

(*****NO DISCOUNT if you came to preach English).......

so NOT WANTING to pay 1,800,000 won just to join - I tried Samsung Insurance......

they told me - sorry we only give automobile insurance to foreigners - we DO NOT give medical insurance to foreigners - ONLY to Koreans...

they told my friend a different story - something about you having to pay 5-years subscription to qualify?

so then I try AIG (American) Insurance located here in seoul.......
http://www.aiggeneral.co.kr/english/company/ppf.jsp

they also seem ONLY to offer automobile, personal property and person liability insurance to foreigners.......

what can I do - has anyone gotten insurance OTHER than NHIC through another company (after having been here for many years -without insurance - what company - how to do it? (telephone numbers/office/branch addresses/web-sites - what if MY best option????

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Get a flippin visa sponsor like everyone else here.

Yesterday · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:49 am Post subject:

jjurabong · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

I'm insured by Kyobo, but I'm married to a Korean...not sure if they will insure an independant foreigner.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

I don't agree with Pyongshin Shanga (put that in your sig! Wink

)

Of course your visa sponsor will get your insurance, but it comes from the same organisation, so the cost will be the same. And I can't imagine a school willing to subsidise 6 years of non-payment!

I think it works on the basis that, even if you're not making payments, you are still covered by their government scheme. Not sure what the reality of this is. One things for sure, the system is weird.

In my first year i used work and travel insurance from a company in the UK. It cost �200 for pretty good cover. But when I came for my second year, I opted for teh NCIS instead. Guess I got lucky cos I didn't have to make any back-payments.

Getting insurance form a company then pretending you're at home is one of the most ridiculous ideas I've seen on this board.

dbee · Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Location: korea

Maybe you should leave Korea and come back again, then hope to qualify for insurance as someone who has not been here continuously...?