Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LeChuck]

I arrived in Korea over the weekend and have been teaching at my hagwon since Tuesday. On Tuesday, I started becoming ill, and last night I went to the hospital after my symptoms became more severe. The hospital staff was incredibly gracious and couldn't have been more helpful; they eventually diagnosed the problem, gave me some medication and sent me on my way. The problem is, since I only just arrived I don't have health insurance yet (all of the new staff at the school are in the process of applying for our alien registration cards. The business director of my school was kind enough to absorb the bill (temporarily), and said that she would buy me private insurance today in case I become sick again.

That said, my question is this: are there any loopholes or avenues I can take to have the final cost reduced?

Any help would be appreciated.

[poet13]

Your national health insurance should be retroactive to when you started working because that's until when you retroactively pay your bill. The was my case and how it was explained to me. I ended up getting a cash reimbursement at the pharmacy counter the next time I went in.

[adamosity]

Keep in mind, of course, that bills here aren't at the level of the US.

I was in the hospital in November, and the bill came to something like 800,000 before insurance and 400,000 won after insurance. Granted, I paid extra for a private room for the two days, and the better doctor supplement (the doctor who operated on me was the chair of a medical school department)...

Even if it doesn't kick in, you're not looking at bankruptcy.

If your boss has any decency, they should offer to help if you're not covered by insurance. Of course, I've had a few in the past who were not decent *laughs*

--adam