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johnyv40
Joined: 19 Dec 2008
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 Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 12:04 am Post subject: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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So I have only been in Korea for a week, and i had my physical earlier this week. It came back positive for TB.
Well this sucks, and I could tell my director was not happy about it.
But my recruiter called me, and told me that I need to pay for it. They asked me if this was ok, I said no. Then they were like but you can pay for it. I asked about my insurance and they said that it wont cover it. They again asked me if I would pay for it, and I told them. I do NOT accept that.
So am I in the right here?? Or should I just pay for it?
I know monday this is going to be an issue if not later today. Thanks in advance
John |
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kprrok
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Location: KC
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:49 am Post subject: |
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Pay for what, the test? The treatment? Your flight? Your whatever?
If you're talking about paying for the test or the treatment, then yes, you should pay. We all pay for our own health care here (insurance is split with employer but we still pay the out of pocket stuff). If Insurance doesn't cover it, man up and pay your damned bill. Don't be a whiney little baby who's going to nickel and dime every damn bill they see.
As for flight, or something else, I'd want more details before giving an opinion. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Positive for TB?
If you are lucky you won't be deported at your 90 day mark (if not sooner).
That is one of the flags for refusal to grant a status of sojourn.
You have bigger worries than the bill for the medical test.
Oh, and if you were on the NHIC then they would pay 1/2 of your medical treatment. The exam is your responsibility since you won't be staying in Korea.
You better have enough money for the flight costs too.
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Welsh Canadian
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 4:05 am Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| johnyv40 wrote: |
So I have only been in Korea for a week, and i had my physical earlier this week. It came back positive for TB.
Well this sucks, and I could tell my director was not happy about it.
But my recruiter called me, and told me that I need to pay for it. They asked me if this was ok, I said no. Then they were like but you can pay for it. I asked about my insurance and they said that it wont cover it. They again asked me if I would pay for it, and I told them. I do NOT accept that.
So am I in the right here?? Or should I just pay for it?
I know monday this is going to be an issue if not later today. Thanks in advance
John |
I agree with someone above. If you have a previous illness and come to Korea, you can`t expect your Korean insurance to pay for it. |
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Caffeinated
Joined: 11 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 5:47 am Post subject: |
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| The TB test only indicates prior exposure to TB so quite a few people test positive for it. It does not mean you have an active case of the disease happening. |
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Welsh Canadian
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| Caffeinated wrote: |
| The TB test only indicates prior exposure to TB so quite a few people test positive for it. It does not mean you have an active case of the disease happening. |
This is why they will ask you to get a chest x-ray to confirm or not.
You shouldn't really be in contact with students if you have TB. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| johnyv40 wrote: |
So I have only been in Korea for a week, and i had my physical earlier this week. It came back positive for TB.
Well this sucks, and I could tell my director was not happy about it.
But my recruiter called me, and told me that I need to pay for it. They asked me if this was ok, I said no. Then they were like but you can pay for it. I asked about my insurance and they said that it wont cover it. They again asked me if I would pay for it, and I told them. I do NOT accept that.
So am I in the right here?? Or should I just pay for it?
I know monday this is going to be an issue if not later today. Thanks in advance
John |
That sucks. Didn't you know that they test for this? It's so easily treated, too. Back home, they do a skin test and you get results in about 4 days. If you have it, you go on antibiotics for about 6 weeks (I think) and it's cleared up. Sorry to say it, but you should have checked and fixed this back home. You may have to leave and come back in a few months. I hope you didn't lose too much money.  |
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Welsh Canadian
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| johnyv40 wrote: |
So I have only been in Korea for a week, and i had my physical earlier this week. It came back positive for TB.
Well this sucks, and I could tell my director was not happy about it.
But my recruiter called me, and told me that I need to pay for it. They asked me if this was ok, I said no. Then they were like but you can pay for it. I asked about my insurance and they said that it wont cover it. They again asked me if I would pay for it, and I told them. I do NOT accept that.
So am I in the right here?? Or should I just pay for it?
I know monday this is going to be an issue if not later today. Thanks in advance
John |
Doesn't insurance take like a week or something to kick in? (in Korea)
This might be why they are asking you to pay for |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
| johnyv40 wrote: |
So I have only been in Korea for a week, and i had my physical earlier this week. It came back positive for TB.
Well this sucks, and I could tell my director was not happy about it.
But my recruiter called me, and told me that I need to pay for it. They asked me if this was ok, I said no. Then they were like but you can pay for it. I asked about my insurance and they said that it wont cover it. They again asked me if I would pay for it, and I told them. I do NOT accept that.
So am I in the right here?? Or should I just pay for it?
I know monday this is going to be an issue if not later today. Thanks in advance
John |
That sucks. Didn't you know that they test for this? It's so easily treated, too. Back home, they do a skin test and you get results in about 4 days. If you have it, you go on antibiotics for about 6 weeks (I think) and it's cleared up. Sorry to say it, but you should have checked and fixed this back home. You may have to leave and come back in a few months. I hope you didn't lose too much money. |
He should have checked for TB when he was home? That's ridiculous. Why would he have randomly gone to the doctor for a tuberculosis test?
First off...I would absolutely get a 2nd opinion before you just trust this Korean doctor's diagnosis. I have experienced and known of SO many mis-diagnoses in this country that it's insane. I would bet that there is at least a 50% chance that you don't have tuberculosis.
I agree with kprrok that we'd need more information before giving an opinion about who should pay for what....if you just mean the test, then the school should pay whether you passed the test or not. If you mean the treatment then you should pay. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| air76 wrote: |
| NYC_Gal wrote: |
| johnyv40 wrote: |
So I have only been in Korea for a week, and i had my physical earlier this week. It came back positive for TB.
Well this sucks, and I could tell my director was not happy about it.
But my recruiter called me, and told me that I need to pay for it. They asked me if this was ok, I said no. Then they were like but you can pay for it. I asked about my insurance and they said that it wont cover it. They again asked me if I would pay for it, and I told them. I do NOT accept that.
So am I in the right here?? Or should I just pay for it?
I know monday this is going to be an issue if not later today. Thanks in advance
John |
That sucks. Didn't you know that they test for this? It's so easily treated, too. Back home, they do a skin test and you get results in about 4 days. If you have it, you go on antibiotics for about 6 weeks (I think) and it's cleared up. Sorry to say it, but you should have checked and fixed this back home. You may have to leave and come back in a few months. I hope you didn't lose too much money. |
He should have checked for TB when he was home? That's ridiculous. Why would he have randomly gone to the doctor for a tuberculosis test?
First off...I would absolutely get a 2nd opinion before you just trust this Korean doctor's diagnosis. I have experienced and known of SO many mis-diagnoses in this country that it's insane. I would bet that there is at least a 50% chance that you don't have tuberculosis.
I agree with kprrok that we'd need more information before giving an opinion about who should pay for what....if you just mean the test, then the school should pay whether you passed the test or not. If you mean the treatment then you should pay. |
I went to my GP for my vaccine boosters, and whilst there had a skin *beep*. 4 days later I got my results. I hardly call that going out of my way. I knew there was a TB test here, so I was intelligent, and had it done there, because it's dumb to spend a thousand dollars to get here to be sent home for something so easily prevented beforehand.
Last edited by NYC_Gal on Fri May 07, 2010 7:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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tired of LA
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| Welsh Canadian wrote: |
| Caffeinated wrote: |
| The TB test only indicates prior exposure to TB so quite a few people test positive for it. It does not mean you have an active case of the disease happening. |
This is why they will ask you to get a chest x-ray to confirm or not.
You shouldn't really be in contact with students if you have TB. |
Don't they check for TB using x-ray in the first place? I have never had the skin test done in Korea. They have always just given me a chest x-ray.
| Welsh Canadian wrote: |
Doesn't insurance take like a week or something to kick in? (in Korea)
This might be why they are asking you to pay for |
Insurance doesn't kick in until you get your ARC from immigration. You need to submit the medical to get your ARC, so the OP won't get insurance until he gets treated for TB. |
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Welsh Canadian
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| tired of LA wrote: |
| Welsh Canadian wrote: |
| Caffeinated wrote: |
| The TB test only indicates prior exposure to TB so quite a few people test positive for it. It does not mean you have an active case of the disease happening. |
This is why they will ask you to get a chest x-ray to confirm or not.
You shouldn't really be in contact with students if you have TB. |
Don't they check for TB using x-ray in the first place? I have never had the skin test done in Korea. They have always just given me a chest x-ray.
| Welsh Canadian wrote: |
Doesn't insurance take like a week or something to kick in? (in Korea)
This might be why they are asking you to pay for |
Insurance doesn't kick in until you get your ARC from immigration. You need to submit the medical to get your ARC, so the OP won't get insurance until he gets treated for TB. |
Skin test/injection test is the cheaper and easier way to go. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Health insurance, they want me to pay |
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| Welsh Canadian wrote: |
| tired of LA wrote: |
| Welsh Canadian wrote: |
| Caffeinated wrote: |
| The TB test only indicates prior exposure to TB so quite a few people test positive for it. It does not mean you have an active case of the disease happening. |
This is why they will ask you to get a chest x-ray to confirm or not.
You shouldn't really be in contact with students if you have TB. |
Don't they check for TB using x-ray in the first place? I have never had the skin test done in Korea. They have always just given me a chest x-ray.
| Welsh Canadian wrote: |
Doesn't insurance take like a week or something to kick in? (in Korea)
This might be why they are asking you to pay for |
Insurance doesn't kick in until you get your ARC from immigration. You need to submit the medical to get your ARC, so the OP won't get insurance until he gets treated for TB. |
Skin test/injection test is the cheaper and easier way to go. |
I know this. Why do they make us get dangerous x-rays here, though? I had the skin test back home before I came here, yet they still made me go the x-ray route, even when I told them that there's a much safer way. |
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mattdsoares
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:16 am Post subject: |
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You won't get your ARC and therefore your insurance until you get a clean bill of health from the hospital.
Your options are to pay for the treatment for TB and hope that they then approve your health check and you can go on working in Korea.
OR
Refuse to pay, don't get the treatment and get deported, having to pay for your own flight back home.
In this case, the school is right in asking you to pay. They're under no obligation to pay for your TB treatment. You brought it with you from home and you don't/can't have health insurance yet.
It's a tough spot, but they're in the right.
Treatment isn't THAT expensive here so find out how much it would be. |
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