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canada1987
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
Location: Vancouver
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 Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject: NHIC Health Insurance |
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Hi
I am scheduled to land in Korea on March 2nd, the same day my contract states that I begin teaching.
I am wondering how long it takes before I am eligble for the NHIC Health Insurance Plan (government insurance plan).
Should I consider getting 30 days of travel insurance to protect me if I get hit by a tuk-tuk, bit by one of my students, etc?
Thanks. |
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kardisa
Joined: 26 Jun 2009
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: NHIC Health Insurance |
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| canada1987 wrote: |
| if I get hit by a tuk-tuk |
What country are you moving to again?
To answer your question though, it took about 40 days for my employer to sign me up with NHIC once I began my contract. Your boss can't sign you up until you have an ARC, so make sure they do that as soon as possible after you arrive. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: NHIC Health Insurance |
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| canada1987 wrote: |
Hi
I am scheduled to land in Korea on March 2nd, the same day my contract states that I begin teaching.
I am wondering how long it takes before I am eligible for the NHIC Health Insurance Plan (government insurance plan).
Should I consider getting 30 days of travel insurance to protect me if I get hit by a tuk-tuk, bit by one of my students, etc?
Thanks. |
There are no tuk-tuks in Korea.
If you are at a public school then you should have your ARC in about 30 days and your NHIC enrollment usually takes about 2 weeks or so after that.
IF you are going to a hagwan then I would get it (chances are that you won't have any coverage from the school in spite of what your contract says.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about travel insurance but if you are so inclined it wouldn't hurt and doesn't cost that much if you get it when you get your ticket.
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UknowsI
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Remember that the NHIC is more of a discount plan than an actual insurance. It will give you up to 70% discount on mostly minor incidence but much less for most serious injuries and diseases. My point is that the risk of coming into financial difficulties because of medical bills is small during that one month without the NHIC compared to the time after when you're a part of the NHIC. |
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Lolimahro
Joined: 19 May 2009
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| Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If you are at a public school then you should have your ARC in about 30 days and your NHIC enrollment usually takes about 2 weeks or so after that. |
Yes, you need your ARC first - it took my employer a month, I think. (Actually, as I arrived in Korea more than a week before my contract began, it was more like 6 weeks, but whatever). As soon as I had my ARC I went into my local NHIC office in Mok-dong and got on the NHIC plan within 30 minutes. NHIC has an English hotline to help you with translation if you have any problems with that. (It's on their website: nhic.or.kr)
Best of luck to you! |
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