Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alwynjo]

I was just about to sign a contract, until I asked about the confusing statement regarding health insurance. Below is the response to my email.

Can anyone with any legal knowledge (or knowledge of the health fund) tell me if what is said in the email is true. Or will we get penilized for joining the fund late and wnating to claim?
Thanks



The school director wishes you not to join the health insurance system from the very beginning (this case, If you have flu or a little bit injured the school director will take you to a hospital and the director pays normally 100% of its cost).

If you join the health insurance the school pay about 30,000~350,000won per person and each of you needs to pay 30,000won as well. so 50% the school pay and 50% you pay the total cost.
So if you do not join the health insurance system, you don't have to spend 60,000 won per month.

Most of experienced teachers in Korea like to do this as long as the director bring teachers to the hospital and pays 50%~100% of its cost. (normally teachers get flu about once a year and that's all)

And if you get seriously injured or sick, the school can make you join the health system that time and you will be provided all proper health care. But this case you & the school need to pay some amount of money to the system. (if you arrive in Korea on 1st June and join the system in november---> 5(months)x30,000(won)=150,000won) you need to pay 150,000won and the school also need to pay 150,000won too. So there is no penalty of late joining the health system. ^^

I know when people go to a new country, they would be feeling better if they could join the proper health insurance system. But as it is not a bad deal I hope you could consider this positively.. But if you two are definately not comfortable about this, I will ask the director to make you join the health insurance from the very biginning.

[Derrek]

Basically, they don't want to pay their half of the health insurance.

My suggestion is that you demand it. Split the costs 50/50. You don't need a lot of mumbo-jumbo figures in the contract. It should simply say that the employer pays 50% of national health insurance costs, and employee pays the other 50%. If they are trying to throw in another group of numbers, that's where I'd be uncomfortable.

Honestly, most teachers LEGALLY working here want to get it. I feel a possible red flag with this employer, but maybe not. They are somewhat honest, yet seem to be trying to avoid paying it if possible.

True, health insurance may not be needed, but it's there if you do. That's why it's insurance. I'm glad it was there when I caught pneumonia 2 years ago. I never expected to get that.

[captain kirk]

It makes me angry to see this because it's just being cheap and at the expense of your own security. The requirement is clear. They hope you'll be a 'nice guy' and help them weasel out of a requirement that is standardized to protect you. Sure it's a red flag. From the start wanting to cut corners? I guess they figure if you're seriously injured then you won't be able to work and out you go. Meanwhile you'll have no insurance. Having given that away being gung ho pro organization
Some people have to be told, have their grasping hands slapped....etc....Kind of a sad indicator of a me first attitude on the part of the school dammit.

[desultude]

(normally teachers get flu about once a year and that's all)


This is the part I like. There is another thread going right now that addresses flu and first year illnesses. I swear, the first year here I was sicker more often and worse than any other time in my life. You get past it, but you will most likely spend a fair amount of time going to the doctor in that first year.

Also they don't say the director will take you and pay 50-100%, just that "Most of experienced teachers in Korea like to do this as long as the director bring teachers to the hospital and pays 50%~100% of its cost."

Sounds like cheap bs to me.

[tzechuk]

Without insurance, medical costs in Korea are basically the same as the US (very similar). So it is for your own good to demand health insurance.. otherwise you are talking about a lot of money if you become ill and need to be hospitalised or something (which I hope you won't!!),

[guangho]

my health insurance is (i think) 88K a month. Is that reasonable?

[camelina]

My health insurance is 45 a month, and my boss pays the other half.

In 16 months i haven't used it once.

I think if you get a signed agreement from your boss that he will pay if you get the flu or something, that's fine. I'd do that if i could again.

The problem without having insurance is if you break your leg or get cancer or something.

[hogwonguy1979]

tell him to ante up or you won't come.

Thats pure bs, he's weasling out of meager 40k/month if that much.

Only thing I can think of he doesn't have it now and if he adds you he might have to back pay for all his employees

[paperbag princess]

he's being cheap. ask him what health insurance he has and ask why he thinks you deserve less than he does (i guarentee he has the national pension).

[JacktheCat]

[No L]

I had pretty much the same agreement with my boss and it worked out fine. I saved about $500 for the year, but I don't get sick often and I certainly don't run to the doctor as often as the average Korean. I didn't get insurance and I only went to the doctor once; the cost was 20 000 won plus medicine. My boss paid it. If something serious had happened, I would have acquired insurance at that time. Health Insurance in Korea can be backdated/applied for afterwards. My friend was in the same situation as me and when she ended up in the hospital for a week; she got insurance then and got the insurance discount for the entire hospital stay.

Your boss is trying to save money, but it shouldn't hurt your health care. Of course, this all depends on how comfortable you are not having insurance. It doesn't worry me, so I asked to not be covered at my current job (a public school) too.

[Hollywoodaction]

[Hollywoodaction]

[desultude]

[nrvs]