Korean Job Discussion Forums

[youtuber]

A question for the long-timers who aren't married to a Korean and have an E2 visa.

When I was in Korea a couple of years ago, me and everyone else I knew were on the National Insurance Plan. However, as most of you know, this plan is woefully inadequate if you plan on spending a long time in Korea. One can end up paying thousands of dollars for a surgery even though they are on the National Plan.

I am Canadian, and I was on a long-term travel insurance plan that I bought in Canada. However, that plan is only for emergencies and only for travelling. I could foresee problems if you wanted reimbursement and the insurers found out that you were living and working in Korea. When big money is involved, an insurance company will not just hand it over.

So what do you do? Apparently, to buy Samsung Health Insurance, you cannot be on an E2 visa. You need to be married to a Korean.

I would imagine that a lot of these supplemental Korean policies do not cover pre-existing conditions as well.

So how do you protect yourself from financial disaster? All of us will eventually have a serious health matter at some point in our lives, and it would suck to lose a major part of our Korean income due to the inadequate National Health Insurance.

[teachergirltoo]

I have used Liaison International/Seven Corners for the past few years - worldwide insurance.

[youtuber]

Thanks. I looked up that policy, and correct me if I am wrong, but it appears to be travel insurance that covers you for medical emergencies while travelling.

Does it cover elective procedures such as knee surgery? Would it cover cancer treatments for example? I am kinda looking for a policy that a normal Korean would have.

I am curious if you have made a claim with them yet? How did it go?

[Cohiba]

Both AIG and ING operate in Korea. I have both. I have AIG supplementary
health insurance and life insurance. The supplementary health insurance
picks up where KHI leaves off. Nice private room and ALL procedures
are 100% covered. I also have ING life and cancer insurance. Cancer
can set you back 30,000-40,000USD in Korea.

Both life insurance policies are pretty standard. Pay 200,000KRW/mo.
and if I croak my wife gets money. If I don't croak before 65, I can elect
to get all the money back.

I'm on an E7 visa. I don't know about E2, but I don't see any reason why not.

I don't plan on getting sick, but if I do I want a nice private room in a nice hospital.
(with no financial worries)

[bassexpander]

Some of the policies by some international companies (not travel ones) won't cover some F-series visas, for example.... you need to ask a lot of questions per your situation.

[waseige1]

Like many from the US, I am here without insurance at home. I had a policy for years but could no longer justify the $300 a month that may or may not cover me when I got home.

My fear is getting a terminal disease here (such as Cancer with a capital C). I would miss enough work I would get fired. I would be sent home. I would arrive with a terminal pre-existing condition.

Anyone else worry about this? Anyone have an insurance product that protects against this?

I am on an E2 visa.

[asmith]

[waseige1]

[storysinger81]

I was diagnosed with a chronic condition (ulcerative colitis) here in Korea and the care has been first rate, cheap, and thorough.

I know cancer specifically isn't covered on the Korean Health Insurance, but sit down with someone in the health profession here, almost everything else is covered, and if you go to the right hospital, covered well. Talk with them and maybe your fears will be alleviated.

They even registered me with the Korean government so I get more coverage and such (my doctor's visits are now free and my meds, which I take 6-8 pills of daily, are less than 25,000/month). I need to go to the hospital once every couple months or so, so I try to work with my co-teachers to arrange the schedule so I don't miss classes--if you're in a hagwon this would be easier since you probably don't teach in the mornings.

I do now have a fear that I can never return to the US, because now I have a "pre-existing condition," but I guess we'll find out in August

[waseige1]

[youtuber]

Hey Cohiba

So you pay a total of W400,000 per month? Have you made any claims yet? How did it go? Are pre-existing conditions taken care of?

Adequate health coverage is definitely one thing most teachers overlook when they come here, and as such, I think that is why our employers only provide the basic coverage.

[youtuber]

Storysinger

That's great!

Unfortunately, when I had elective knee surgery in Korea a few years ago, I had to shell out....huge. And I was on the National Plan. I would like to avoid that again if possible by having a comprehensive plan.

I really do hope ObamaCare happens, but the way things are going, it probably won't. Or it will be really watered down.

[storysinger81]

I'm on E-2.

Sorry to hear about your surgery. The testing procedures prior to diagnosis did run about $250 US, not including the higher fees for the doc prior to being diagnosed and registered, but it was reasonable. Even compared to my excellent public school teacher insurance back in the US.

[Cohiba]

[Rusty Shackleford]