Korean Job Discussion Forums

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

This guy needs to pay around $40,000 for prosthetic leg. His insurance only pays $5000. Would he have fared better had he been a citizen of another country?

unknown9398 · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Location: Yeongcheon, S. Korea

Healthcare in America isn't bad. The quality is excellent. But it is out of reach for millions who have no healthcare coverage, and those that are covered must deal with penny-pinching insurance companies. Remember, there is no universal healthcare coverage in America, so this poor guy and his family are depending on the insurance provided by an employer. Meanwhile, many employers have cut benefits to keep the bottom line nice and black, so employees shoulder more of the cost of healthcare.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

It's absolutely terrible in CANADA.

People are waiting years, or simply going to the US (or other countries) to get their surgeries.

CANADA has huge problems with medical care, contrary to the myth tha it's such a great country because of it's medical / health care.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Portablility is a big issue. Let's say you get cancer and your company health insurance pays for the treatment.

If you quit, get fired or are laid off now anything related to that cancer is considered a preexisting condition and no new insurance company will cover it. Insurance companies also try to claim everything is a preexisting condition.

COBRA legislation tried to fix this. You get to keep your insurance until you start a new job but you have to pay a giant monthly payment that most people can't afford.

Companies can't fire you for having cancer but they can fire you if you are unable to perform your duties.

Here's what happens. You get a disease. You get fired because you can't perform your duties. You run out of money paying COBRA payments. Now everything related to your disease is a preexisting condition and won't be covered on any new policy.

pdx · Joined: 19 Jan 2007

i have no answers, but hey! that guy's from my city.

alex83 · Joined: 03 May 2007

TECO is absolutely right.

I live in Toronto and have a relatively serious medical condition. It takes 3 months just to get an appointment with my specialist.

Also, I am currently on an over-1 year waiting list to get a fairly standard surgery. I put myself on the waiting list, then went to Korea, knowing that by the time I get back, I can get the surgery.

In Canada, they are really good at saving you from death at the emergency room. Anything after that, you're pretty much screwed!

teachergirltoo · Joined: 28 Oct 2006

I am from Vancouver, and have had friends and family deal with very serious health issues. They have received excellent quick medical care. No problems whatsoever.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

yawarakaijin · Joined: 08 Aug 2006

Canadians have nothing to complain about. We have things a hundred times better than our brothers and sisters to the south. If am dying and I need treatment right away and I have the money to go south, am I going to bit#h about it? Absolutely not. If it's not so serious then I will wait and get my treatment for free.

While stories of people dying while waiting for care are horrible, that's not what I find the most apalling. Imagine having to fork over thousands of dollars to fix a broken leg. Imagine how it would feel to be denied service or be shuttled off to another hospital at the request of an HMO while your head is gushing blood. The american system is an insult to humanity. The ONLY major western country where health care is not universal.

If Americans knew how people lived in countries like France, UK, Canada and every other western european country they would be in shock. Oh, but there are ways to negate that. "Who would want to live in a socialist state?"....ohh the horrors of free health care.

Only the elite rich of Canadian society could ever have the balls to wish for the American system.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

contrarian · Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Location: Nearly in NK

I am a Canadian and I am 67. I need a knee replacement. I can still walk with a cane so in Canada I don't qualify "just yet". Perhaps in another year or two I will. Once I qualify there is (except in Alberta) an 18 to 14 months waiting time.

So in for years I will be 71, which means I may be "disqualified" by death.

In the US I could get the operation and due to my age it would likely be covered by US medicare for older folks.

Canada's passion for total equlity means I can't pay extra and jumpt the line-up

It is ludicrous. Crying or Very sad

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

sojourner1 · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:19 pm Post subject:

The US health care system is focused on keeping old folks alive as long as possible since there is big money in geriatrics care. While Americans place a high value on prolonging life, its' government supports for all care to go to retirees while the working as well as children receive little or nothing when in need.

Little or nothing is provided for the majority of adults less than 40 years old since th majority of todays' jobs do not offer health insurance coverage or offer some over priced inadequate coverage. When you're making $300 to $400 per week working full time in a typical job with no health or dental (if offered, it's overpriced with light coverage), usually no dental, it is a personal financial crisis to need treatment for a tooth absess or if you fall ill. You lose money from not being at work since paid sick time is almost unheard of and you have to pay cash or credit card upfront to receive over priced services such as tooth extraction or antibiotics prescription. Trying to survive in an economic system that requires more than a typical average job pays is one major reason for many Americans being maxed out on debt. I talk about the economy and job market since the health care system is Americas single largest profit sector today while average people struggle to make ends meet.

If you do have care or willing to pay upfront, more often than not, you have to wait many weeks for your appointment if not showing up in a hospital ER. Prescription medicines are also rediculously expensive which are the very most expensive in the world. To put it into anaology, it's like Korea and Japan charging the most for meat, fruit, and air flights. America's healthcare system is very nationalistic since it is supported and regulated by the government to operate in the manner it does. It's survival of the fitist in Americas' economy while the rest of the world is becoming more like this as well due to Americas' influence in the global economy. Socialist countries are in big trouble financially where they will not be able to continue to offer free coverage and paid sick time off such as 3 years off to have a baby in England.

It all boils down to if you have money or not and yes, quality of life has a price tag on it and it's up to each individual to pull his or her own weight in todays highly competitive capitalistic system where the big fish eat little fish. Sink or swim, no if's, and's, or but's about it.

HyperPatriot · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Location: America aka Everywhere

At least we dont have to pay for Insurance if we don't want it.

What is it -- $300/month in Japan that you must pay??

$300 x 12 months x 10 years = $36,000 you paid into something you might not ever use.

Now what if we had invested $36,000 while young with compound interest INSTEAD of having it taken away from us?

(I know, i know -- how many people would do that? Well, it could be part of a state savings program or something and the default could be for the money to be put aside -- meaning you have to request to take it out. That would encourage many to save.)

Just something to think about.

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