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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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 Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 3:50 am Post subject: |
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| We can't fault them for ignorance. |
Sorry NYCGal but yes we can. It would seem pretty basic to find out just what is covered by the NHIC. Your health is pretty much up to you.
Not finding out is a bit like playing russian roulette with your health and wallet.
Most people do not bother to dig when it comes to NHIC and what it covers. That happens a lot and if and when they get sick in Korea, it can come back to bite them in the butt. I have sympathy for people who end up in such situation (big health care bill to pay abroad and sick) but the responsibility for this lands squarely on their laps, no way around that in my opinion. |
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cabeza
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:34 am Post subject: |
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It wouldn't be difficult for the Korean govt. to make a multi-lingual brochure that sets out exactly what is covered, what isn't etc. and send it to any new enrollee on the NHIC. Maybe this already exists, but I've never seen it.
When I started the only thing I knew about it was what my co-workers told me, which was it was "awesome" and "so cheap". The only reason I got private coverage is becuase my girlfriend pestered me about it continuously. If she hadn't explained it I would never have even considered it because it's hard to find exact information. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:00 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| We can't fault them for ignorance. |
Sorry NYCGal but yes we can. It would seem pretty basic to find out just what is covered by the NHIC. Your health is pretty much up to you.
Not finding out is a bit like playing russian roulette with your health and wallet.
Most people do not bother to dig when it comes to NHIC and what it covers. That happens a lot and if and when they get sick in Korea, it can come back to bite them in the butt. I have sympathy for people who end up in such situation (big health care bill to pay abroad and sick) but the responsibility for this lands squarely on their laps, no way around that in my opinion. |
You can fault them, then. I'll continue to try and spread the word. We'll see which one is more helpful. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:28 am Post subject: |
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NYC_Gal 2.0 is right. It's better to inform people.
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I know a huge number of expats(usually fresh off the boat ones) often sing praises about the Korean Medical insurance because it gets them medicine for coughs and colds a little cheaper than what they would pay otherwise. Lets be realistic here though. Its a band aid. Nothing more, nothing less. If you develop any kind of complication that requires actual treatment and not just a smattering of random pills to make the problem go away, you are pretty much up the creek without a paddle.
It doesn't actually cover anything more than the basics (most Koreans appear to get private insurance, which you Americans out there may be familiar with from your home country), but we are often told how wonderful it is by recruiters and then again at EPIK and GEPIK orientation, which in turn creates a false sense of security among us expats. I think its time that we all put our heads together and busted this stupid myth once and for all. |
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tophatcat
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Location: under the hat
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:51 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
NYC_Gal 2.0 is right. It's better to inform people.
| Quote: |
I know a huge number of expats(usually fresh off the boat ones) often sing praises about the Korean Medical insurance because it gets them medicine for coughs and colds a little cheaper than what they would pay otherwise. Lets be realistic here though. Its a band aid. Nothing more, nothing less. If you develop any kind of complication that requires actual treatment and not just a smattering of random pills to make the problem go away, you are pretty much up the creek without a paddle.
It doesn't actually cover anything more than the basics (most Koreans appear to get private insurance, which you Americans out there may be familiar with from your home country), but we are often told how wonderful it is by recruiters and then again at EPIK and GEPIK orientation, which in turn creates a false sense of security among us expats. I think its time that we all put our heads together and busted this stupid myth once and for all. |
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NYC-Gal is right on this one.
My spouse and I both have supplemental coverage.
You will be ok with the NHIC for most things. But when the big problem comes if you don't have supplemental coverage then you might as well go out to pasture and let them shoot you in the head. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal 2.0 wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| We can't fault them for ignorance. |
Sorry NYCGal but yes we can. It would seem pretty basic to find out just what is covered by the NHIC. Your health is pretty much up to you.
Not finding out is a bit like playing russian roulette with your health and wallet.
Most people do not bother to dig when it comes to NHIC and what it covers. That happens a lot and if and when they get sick in Korea, it can come back to bite them in the butt. I have sympathy for people who end up in such situation (big health care bill to pay abroad and sick) but the responsibility for this lands squarely on their laps, no way around that in my opinion. |
You can fault them, then. I'll continue to try and spread the word. We'll see which one is more helpful. |
One is not exclusive of the other....
By all means inform them. I do the same when asked.
My point is that people are responsible for their actions.
Still, it is good to keep informing them on what could happen, hence my oft repeated advice about getting supplemental health insurance! |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| tophatcat wrote: |
| World Traveler wrote: |
NYC_Gal 2.0 is right. It's better to inform people.
| Quote: |
I know a huge number of expats(usually fresh off the boat ones) often sing praises about the Korean Medical insurance because it gets them medicine for coughs and colds a little cheaper than what they would pay otherwise. Lets be realistic here though. Its a band aid. Nothing more, nothing less. If you develop any kind of complication that requires actual treatment and not just a smattering of random pills to make the problem go away, you are pretty much up the creek without a paddle.
It doesn't actually cover anything more than the basics (most Koreans appear to get private insurance, which you Americans out there may be familiar with from your home country), but we are often told how wonderful it is by recruiters and then again at EPIK and GEPIK orientation, which in turn creates a false sense of security among us expats. I think its time that we all put our heads together and busted this stupid myth once and for all. |
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NYC-Gal is right on this one.
My spouse and I both have supplemental coverage.
You will be ok with the NHIC for most things. But when the big problem comes if you don't have supplemental coverage then you might as well go out to pasture and let them shoot you in the head. |
Exactly. |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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I'd be getting a supplemental policy if we weren't going home in 3 months, We'll take our chances for now
However this is a good point for all the newbies to get a supplemental policy or if its discovered you've been IC'ed to enroll in NHIC. I just met a guy down at my local coffee place who told me he was working for CDI and wants to run with my club, asked him if he had NHIC, said "no" told him to enroll before coming out with us. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: South Korean hospital won’t transfer American |
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| lithium wrote: |
| young_clinton wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
This isn't the UK, Canada or Oklahoma (where all but the county hospital would have refused to treat him in the first place).
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This is full of it. In the US, all hospitals have to provide treatment if the patient is in danger of losing his life or being permanently maimed or is in pain by Act of Congress. In general large public hospitals are likely to be Level IV hospitals and are just as well equipped as private hospitals, when it comes to trauma they are better equipped |
Once Obamecare kills the insurance industry and the USA is on socialized medicine, this will be typical. Is your life worth the $$ the gov't has to spend on treatment? No, as Obama himself said, "Take a pain pill." |
Obamacare is not socialized medicine. But, it's something strange nontheless. Making people buy insurance they can't afford or pay a penalty that takes more of their income unless the government will turn around and give them free insurance after this is what I don't understand. Small businesses that can't afford the penalties or rising insurance premiums and won't hire people seems odd too. I'm not taking the Republicans side on this, but what the Democrats have offered up seems to not make much economic sense to me. Americans do need some kind of health care change from what they had before. Maybe the government should just cover poor people (welfare, minimum wage, abrely above minimum wage, etc), retired people, veterans, etc. (In other words, merge all those different programs - medicare, medicaid, VA hospitals, etc and save money.) While at it, give a subsidy or low level coverage to the middle class and let them get private insurance to cover the rest. The rich can buy their own. That might be the best way to solve this. Kind of a Korean American Socialized hybrid. I'm generally free enterprise and an economic conservative, but stripping health care from the equation allows companies and employees to focus on growing themselves and the economy without worrying about how much premiums will be or which company offers the best health insurance. That's my two sense worth. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 3:30 am Post subject: |
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| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
I'd be getting a supplemental policy if we weren't going home in 3 months, We'll take our chances for now
However this is a good point for all the newbies to get a supplemental policy or if its discovered you've been IC'ed to enroll in NHIC. I just met a guy down at my local coffee place who told me he was working for CDI and wants to run with my club, asked him if he had NHIC, said "no" told him to enroll before coming out with us. |
That is actually a good example. Make sure you are enrolled in the NHIC AND that you have supplemental health coverage while living in Korea. I saw too many people ignore this and then get seriously injured while playing sports, climbing...and then having to deal with what can become pretty high medical costs. That is putting yourself in a bad spot through you own negligence! |
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RangerMcGreggor
Joined: 12 Jan 2011
Location: Somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks to this thread, I plan to get insurance this month. Any recommendations for an F visa person here? |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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While I do believe in personal responsibility and staying informed, I wouldn't expect 20 somethings to really give this much of a thought, even though they should, I won't fault them. If a 20 something is that neurotic about their health, they likely have bigger issues or are VERY organized. The only reason they should be that informed is if they do high-risk activities every weekend. 40 somethings, a different story.
And yeah, information is better than condemnation. |
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rainman3277
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| NYC_Gal 2.0 wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| We can't fault them for ignorance. |
Sorry NYCGal but yes we can. It would seem pretty basic to find out just what is covered by the NHIC. Your health is pretty much up to you.
Not finding out is a bit like playing russian roulette with your health and wallet.
Most people do not bother to dig when it comes to NHIC and what it covers. That happens a lot and if and when they get sick in Korea, it can come back to bite them in the butt. I have sympathy for people who end up in such situation (big health care bill to pay abroad and sick) but the responsibility for this lands squarely on their laps, no way around that in my opinion. |
You can fault them, then. I'll continue to try and spread the word. We'll see which one is more helpful. |
One is not exclusive of the other....
By all means inform them. I do the same when asked.
My point is that people are responsible for their actions.
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When asked? that's big of you buddy. Man, do you ever smack of an "i told you so" guy. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| rainman3277 wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| NYC_Gal 2.0 wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| We can't fault them for ignorance. |
Sorry NYCGal but yes we can. It would seem pretty basic to find out just what is covered by the NHIC. Your health is pretty much up to you.
Not finding out is a bit like playing russian roulette with your health and wallet.
Most people do not bother to dig when it comes to NHIC and what it covers. That happens a lot and if and when they get sick in Korea, it can come back to bite them in the butt. I have sympathy for people who end up in such situation (big health care bill to pay abroad and sick) but the responsibility for this lands squarely on their laps, no way around that in my opinion. |
You can fault them, then. I'll continue to try and spread the word. We'll see which one is more helpful. |
One is not exclusive of the other....
By all means inform them. I do the same when asked.
My point is that people are responsible for their actions.
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When asked? that's big of you buddy. Man, do you ever smack of an "i told you so" guy. |
Not at all.
I have just seen too many expats get themselves into crap situations due to not having proper insurance coverage. I understand that as a 20-something, health insurance may seem low on the list of things to consider. Maybe the term "fault" is a bit harsh but I ask you what is better?
Being told about the risks by someone and perhaps avoiding a potentially horrible situation or not being told and perhaps getting nailed with a huge hospital bill (not to mention dealing with high stress due to illness abroad)?
Truth be told, when I worked in Korea, I would tell new teachers to lok into supplemental insurance. I do the same when I meet people here who plan to go work abroad (Korea or elsewhere). However, once thats done, if a person does not get that sup. insurance then I am very sorry but what may happen next is completely on them. That is not an "I told you so" that is just the reality of what may happen if you gamble with such an issue. Does that mean I do not feel sympathy for people who end up in bad health situations? Nope. I did and do feel bad for them because it can be such a stressful situation for them and often for their family. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I think the point was that you wait for people to ask, rather than volunteering the information. If not, you just phrased it poorly. |
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