Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kelly]

Hi there just looking for some advice, our baby is going to be born here in Korea in December, in a Korean hospital in Hannam dong. I have no idea what the cost is going to be as we will have no insurance and I was just wondering if anyone might have some information. Thanks a lot in advance.

[fidel]

Our hospital bill was about 1 million won for a C section, and seven days hospitalization, WITH insurance. Doesn't include all the pre-birth check ups and whatnot. Insurance is cheap and well worth it if you are going to have children in Korea with all the pre/post birth visits you need to do.
I advise you to get it ASAP even if you do have to pay the backdated amount.

[kelly]

See the problem is I'm going to be here in Korea on a tourist visa and don't think I can get insurance, I mean I have it now, but as my E2 runs out in a couple of weeks, well so does my insurance. We've been going to a private clinic all along for the pre birth consultations and they don't accept insurance, full stop, and after its not an issue as we'll not be here, but I'm just wondering for the delivery more than anything, I'm hoping to spend as little time in hospital as possible, thanks for the info.

[dg611]

Even without insurance, the cost of having a child in Korea is not very expensive compared to say...the US. However, you may be able to contact the national insurance corporation and see if they can extend your insurance coverage. You will also want to contact immigration to see if they need to adjust your visa status. You mentioned you had an E2 that will expire....any chance of getting your director to keep you on record for longer if you offer to pay the cost of the medical insurance? The reason is that the cost of having a baby in Korea is outstandingly low....My wife had a c-section and stayed in an aftercare center at the hospital for 3 week (in addition to the 1 week hospital stay for the surgery) and the whole package with meals and all was less than 2 million won. The insurance did not cover the post natal care center either.
Advice, you need to work out some way you can keep that insurance. If you do, go to a reputable hospital and use the insurance. The costs will be quite reasonable.

Other advice:
1. after your birth, request a private room!!! it costs more but personal space for foreign children does not apply here...everyone will want to touch your child and stare at you and that will probably make you uncomfortable.
2. More important, you need to communicate to your doctor that you do not want a C section (assuming you dont) unless the baby's or the mothers life is absolutely in danger. Reason: the Csection rate in Korea is alarmingly high!!! My theory, they make more money on the Csection and their interns get practice watching one.

The biggest problem I see for you is that you cant leave Korea since the airlines will not allow you to fly in your condition (usually past 6 months) so you have no choice.

[kelly]

Thank you very much for the advice, I will try and contact the national health insurance people and see if I can extend it. As for asking my boss to extend or keep me on the payroll thats a big no no, as far as I can see the schools going under, so its a good time for me to get out. But thanks for telling me about getting the insurance extended, I'll get one of my Korean friends to get onto it, asap.
Thanks!!

[chiaa]

I am not a mom, but I will tell you what I know about when my wife gave birth in the hospital in Hannam.

It was one million having a C section. Her doctor was wonderful (compared to the hag that she was going to the first couple of months).

You have several options when giving birth there:

1. Some crazy water birth. They stick you in a tub.

2. Private room where the family is there.

3. Private room after the birth.

If you are going to listen to anything anyone says on this board, make sure you pay extra and get the private room. That was our biggest mistake. Besides being loud, it was hotter than hell in there.

If you want to talk to my wife, she is going to be here at the store for the next five days (I am on my way to Manila)

[Hollywoodaction]

I'm not a mom, but I still have some info. We wanted our son to be born naturally, but natural birth wasn't possible for medical reasons. I think it was 700 000 or so for the C-section alone. Natural birth is much cheaper than a C-section (again, I don't remember the exact cost, but 70 000 won with insurance comes to mind). If you get a private room, it's about 150 thousand extra. In addition to getting a family room so that you can get some privacy while you rest (reserve in advance if possible), you can also get seperate room to give birth (don't remember the cost), but this one is hard to get. The hospital we went to didn't take reservations on that particular room because they can never accuratly predict when the birthing process will begin (and they only had 2 of them). We lucked out because we went to the hospital early in the day. The doctors were very professional (excellent bedside manner).

[OiGirl]

[kelly]

thanks everyone, I'm just wondering though if all these prices are with or without insurance, thanks for all the information.

[yangtheman]

Hmm... My wife's due date is in December, too. She would need a C-section for medical reasons, and we were quoted 1.2M KRW with insurance. I am not sure if it included a private room or not, but it's good to know that we should request one. I am not sure if Korea has similar system as America's COBRA...., but it shouldn't hurt to ask. Good luck, Kelly.

[kelly]

Once again I want to thank you all for all the info its very much appreciated!!