Korean Job Discussion Forums

[EZE]

For me, not having national health insurance is a big deal because of the financial issue, which includes pension. But I'm writing this as a head's up for those who like to keep their medical issues private and confidential.

I didn't know I didn't have insurance until I went to a local clinic to get a referral, which is what I needed to do for the hospital procedure to be covered by the NHIC health insurance, which is included in my contract. When I arrived at the local clinic, the doctor said he looked it up on his computer and I don't have such insurance. He called my boss and I thought he would only discuss the insurance issue without going into medical details, but he told her the specific health issue and so on.

The doctor handed the phone to me. My boss sounded nervous and she insisted on taking me to the hospital and she translated because the doctor at the next hospital couldn't speak much English. I was scheduled for a colonoscopy. The day of the colonoscopy, the nurses wanted her to translate while they were giving the painkillers, sedation, etc. The pants I had to wear were the pajama type pants with the ass out of them, kind of like the chaps David Lee Roth used to wear. After the procedure, she translated for me when the doctor was telling the results. The endoscopy indicated things were healthy in all areas checked and there were photos of each sequence. Included in the sequence of photos, around 25 in all, was an enlarged photo of the external side of my a-hole. My boss was amused and asked the doctor about the photo, and the doctor told her it's routine for them to include it with all patients because some patients have external hemorrhoids.

My boss did pay for the entire procedure and all costs related to it. The total cost for the procedure plus the prep drink was 159,000 won. It costs around 13 times as much in the USA, so if you're American and need such a test run, it's good to get stuff like this done here, even if you don't have any insurance at all. I suspect most medical procedures can be done here at a huge discount to the USA.

Anyway, my main point is if you don't have the NHIC booklet or your medical insurance type stuff is done through your employer, don't expect any medical confidentiality or privacy, including potenital partial or total nudity even if your boss is the opposite gender. Most importantly, you probably won't have pension either.

[Lucas]

Ha ha!

So your boss saw your a-hole!

That'll be something to talk to your co-workers about over coffee i'm sure!

Maybe she got some photos to show them too! No really, maybe she did!!!

You should have started moaning whilst you were having it done, whilst looking her in the eye and smiling! LOL

[Axiom]

If you want to extract revenge on your boss, call the NHIS and let them know the situation.

The English hot line is 82-2-390-2000.

http://www.nhic.or.kr/static/html/wbd/g/a/wbdga0101.html


I fact I implore all teachers, that don't have the NHIS booklet, to call the number to check that benefits are being paid. Don't just assume that because deductions are coming out of your pay that that money is finding its way to the correct department rather than your bosses pocket.

Maybe we can turn this thread into a poll.

After calling NHIS it was confirmed that I am covered: Yes / No

[EZE]

I guess it's a good thing I work at a small school.

I was under sedation during the colonoscopy, and I was in a serious brain fog in the doctor's office when he was going over the results. I was in such a stupor I couldn't even ask questions that were going through my mind. For example, I remember a photo of intestinal wall that was more red than the other photos of the intestinal wall, and even though I was concerned there in the office, I was somehow too dysfunctional to even ask about it. After googling colonoscopy images that night, I realize now that it was the terminal ileum and that it was normal. I was concious enough for that image to be a little worrisome at the time. But I was really spaced out. As for the a-hole photo, I remember thinking, "That looks like an a-hole," when I saw the picture. My boss pointed to it and was laughing and talking about it, and the doctor explained to her and said the word "hemorrhoid" which is apparently the same word with the same pronunciation in English and Korean. I was too drugged up to feel embarrassed at the time. I just felt a little surprised, since I hadn't had any such pain or symptoms there, and I thought he meant I had hemorrhoids. In retrospect, he must've been explaining to her why the photo was taken because I went back the next morning to ask if I have hemorrhoids and to double check on the reddish ileum photo he said both areas were healthy.

It really wasn't a big deal for me. Maybe there's some mild embarrassment since my boss is single and pretty, but I'm really just glad the results came back okay and I'm far more concerned about the lack of pension than any a-hole photos. I was mainly posting about that for the benefit of others who may not have the national health insurance booklet, especially female teachers since they have OBGYN visits. If you don't want your boss translating while you're in stirrups, get the NHIC booklet!

[EZE]

[Axiom]

[EZE]

[CentralCali]

Your boss is against the idea? Is your boss a licensed medical professional of any kind whatsoever?

Here's another interesting question: Why are you going to continue working for that cheat?

[EZE]

[Skippy]

Yes, the boss is breaking the law or skirting it a bit.

Still you can have privacy OFF of the NHIC. Just in your situation it should like a accumulation of factors resulted in your boss coming into the equation. Then privacy going out the door.

So you go in to the hospital, you find out you do not have insurance and....

It happens that doctor calls your boss to find out what is happening with insurance. Sounds like the doctor was being helpful and trying to see what was happening. So boss got involved.

It could have gone many other way too. You find you have no insurance AND you turn around and go back home/work. Ask about the insurance later. Then go from there.

Once again, you always had the choice to tell you boss to go away. Your boss seems to care as they stuck around to see what is happening with their co-worker/investment. So why did you have them stick around. I see two reasons why.

One, you wanted someone who could help with translation. Hey, if your Korean was better or the doctors English was better then you would have more privacy. The second reason is well when you found out that insurance was not a option and where you going pay becomes a concern. You wanted the boss to accept the responsibility of payment (which is contractually hers). So they are going to invest their time and effort to see if they can save the money.

If you wanted privacy,
You should have waited till you where enrolled in NHIC. Then visit the hopsital.
OR
You could have just paid the money yourself right away. The later, hopefully recoup loses from the boss. Which could be difficult, blood and stone analogy.

Find another hospital that can provide the service you wanted in English.

Just told the doctor - No do not call my boss! I WILL DEAL WITH It LATER.
I accept any responsibility for my bills or health.

I have visited the hospital and dentists by myself off the NHIC and had complete privacy.

Still sorry to here things went weird. Hope you get enrolled and next visit is less of a public ordeal.

[diver]

I don't think it has been brought up yet in this thread, but the other pertinent issue (besides privacy) is that you will be on the hook for retro insurance payments if/when you finally DO get on the national health insurance plan. So, if you complete your year with a school that didn't pay your insurance, and your boss even seemed cool for paying for the few visits you did make to the doctor's office, when you get a new job, or force your current boss to enroll you, you'll have to make back payments. The longer you let it go, the more you'll get hit with.

[EZE]

The doctor at the local hospital told her about my symptoms. I gave him her number thinking he was just going to ask her about insurance, and I really did think I had national health insurance since it was in my contract. But after he handed the phone to me to speak with her, she knew all of the medical details. I wanted to prove that I did have insurance coverage and I desperately needed the referral letter SNU Bundang Hospital said I needed to obtain for my appointment there the following Tuesday.

I didn't want to wait around to get NHIC because I didn't know how long it could take and I was more concerned about the potential of a serious issue such as an obstruction, cancer, or any number of time sensitive potential issues. The only way I was going to get anything covered immediately was to have it done through my boss and nobody spoke English at the clinic where she took me. I was originally going to have it done at SNU Bundang Hospital and their website stated they had English translators, doctors who had practiced in the USA and so on. After it ended up I didn't have insurance, SNU Hospital was no longer an option unless I wanted to go in uninsured and pay everything in full, so I cancelled my appointment.

SNU Hospital sent me the following quotes if I went there uninsured and paid in full:

- Doctor's fee: 60,000 KRW (for experienced specialist), 50,000 KRW (for junior specialist)
- Abdomen & pelvis CT with contrast: 373,000 ~ 427,000 KRW
- Colonoscopy: about 500,000 ~ 600,000 KRW

Had I gone to SNU Hospital on my own, I would've had to have paid at least 550,000 won. Since I went through my boss at the clinic she chose, I paid 0 KRW but at the expense of privacy, which isn't a big deal for me, but I think it could be for others, especially female teachers needing OBGYN visits. They could find themselves in a situation where they have to either pay in full uninsured at a hospital of their choice with English speaking staff or have their male boss translating at a clinic where nobody speaks English while they're in stirrups.

That's why I'm urging everyone to check their health insurance status ASAP. I assumed I had national health insurance since it's in my contract. There are probably a lot of teachers out there who are uninsured and don't know it. I doubt I'm the only one. It's better to get the health insurance situation straightened out while medical attention isn't needed.

Once you do need medical attention and find out you're actually uninsured, you're either going to be sacrificing a lot of money for privacy or sacrificing a lot of privacy for money.

[EZE]

For the record, I do recommend the 21 clinic in Bundang located above the TGIFriday's not far from Seohyun station, if you have a Korean spouse or significant other to translate, or if your own Korean language skills are good. A colonoscopy there is 149,000 and the prep drink was an additional 9,500. The clinic was very clean and comfortable, they seemed professional, and I experienced no complications from the procedure. The price was so much lower than SNU Hospital, which I'm sure is the reason my boss chose that clinic. I can't say I blame her for that, because they did very well at a fraction of the cost.

Its website is www.21chospital.co.kr

[Skippy]

Here is the key point when it comes to insurance, pension. taxes, and any other promise from school. NEVER ASSUME! Always verify. Call up the hotlines, visit the web pages, make visit to the office, get some education. Know what is promised and get it!

I might be a cynical bastard. Yet how can so many people be so gullible and trusting.

I have have heard and met of so many people who have not done due diligence. They assumed the school or boss did something and continued clueless with their life. Some have had some troubles that made life difficult. Others have been royally screwed. Once again for one area of there life so important. Lot of people seem to treat with disregard. Ya but drinking and TV shows are a priority.

Of the people I have met. Who assumed or did not do due diligence.

One guy who I considered smart did not get registered in the 90 days given. He thought his boss would do it. Sorry you have to leave and here is a fine. Of course of he wants to come back. The question is can he?

Another girl, thought she would have a nice pension refund at the end of the contract. Whoops sorry the week before she goes, nothing!

Countless people who believed promises of insurance or tit for tat payment system,. Who then racked up bills do to some accident. Did the boss pay, NO. Some even being let go because they where hurt and thus could not work.

One girl recently, who decided to quit her job and thought she would get a LOR. No problem, the can not refuse me. Sorry no. Visa trip for you!

One guy who was taxed at 3.3%. Never mind he was getting the pension and health, he was being taxed to much. Only when I mentioned it, did he get some a little refund.

Countless people who have got a cold, flu, etc and decided to stay home for a sick day. Then see the drama and fur fly the next day. So many people just assume sick days will be just like home.

Those people who when I talk about contracts. Why does it seem to be every second person does NOT HAVE A COPY of it. Really that so makes me so shake my head or want to do a face palm! They end up having to go ask the school for a copy or try to get it from immigration.

That's enough.

Thank for the heads UP OP. Hope some people learn from your lesson. I am not holding my breath.

[EZE]

Here's where the whole medical privacy issue gets even more strange.

After reading Molly Bloom's recommendation of Dr. Kang at Joyfull Hospital in Gangnam, I went there in person to take a look at the place and to make an appointment for a CT scan. As luck would have it, they got me in and did everything that day, including the CT scan. The interpreter is a very nice guy and everyone was very friendly. Dr. Kang was off, but the female doctor I saw was a very good listener. Overall, I was very happy with the hospital.

I paid in full while I was there, 409,000 won. I didn't tell them where I worked or anything. But when I got to work, my boss said they had called her around 1 o'clock (while I was getting the CT scan). She apologized that I didn't have insurance and said she's going to provide me with national health insurance. I don't know how Joyfull Hospital even knew where I work, and I was very surprised that they contacted her.

Its website is http://www.joyfullhospital.co.kr/english/index.html