Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stickler]

I'm leaving at the end of Feb to come to Korea. When I asked my recuriter about the details of my health coverage provided by my school she merely said that the school would pay for half of my medical expenses and hospital bills. Obviously this is not much information.

Do you think it would be a wise option to have my own travel medical insurance for the duration of my stay?

Your comments are greatly valued,

Many thanks,
Laura

[ttompatz]

[nathanrutledge]

In Korea, there is a national health insurance plan. It's really a discount plan for basic things, not major incidents. Most Koreans carry supplemental insurance.

I'd be very leery of travel insurance. You're not "traveling." If you have a round trip ticket, you might be able to make an argument, but having an Alien Registration Card, paying taxes here, having an actual apartment on which you pay utilities on - you're not traveling and the travel insurance company might not cover you.

Also, as ttompatz said, you're fine until you get sick. Make SURE that you get your national health insurance card and that the school is, in fact, paying your premiums.

Do your research. Buy supplemental insurance that WILL cover you 100% of the time.

[stickler]

Thank you, that's very helpful

[rowdie3]

I definitely recommend that all teacher's in Korea supplement whatever insurance they have whether its the Korean National Insurance or the 50/50 hagwon deal. And, as Ttompatz said, the 50/50 deal would be cancelled should anything major happen to you.

I recently broke my leg and spent eight days in the hospital. This cost me 3.6 million won. Flying my mother over 1.3 million won. Lost wages...ongoing. If I had had decent additional insurance all of this would have been covered.