Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cypher]

Here's the story...I'm covered by national health insurance and I never have any trouble going to the doctor. However, a few times when I have gone to the pharmacy, they have asked me for my card, for drugs that the doctor said should be partially covered. At the pharmacy, they then look in their computer and say I am not covered for drugs. They say it like 'you're not covered for drugs', not 'you're not covered for these drugs. I asked other teachers at my school and they say they've had drugs covered before. So, I asked my director to call the health insurance people to straighten things out, but she just says 'you're card says you're covered' and the next time this happens, I should get the pharmacy to call the school.

Anyway, after that useless story, does anyway know a number for the national health where they speak english so I can sort this out myself?

Or if any drugs are covered for foreigners? I wouldn't have any problems if they had never asked for the card just to deny me.

[peppermint]

I've never had a pharmacy ask for my card, ever. I think it says that you're covered on the prescription

[cypher]

I give them the prescription. Occasionally, they ask to see my card and then hand it back saying I'm not covered. I never even thought about it until they did it the first time, and it's happened again. It's the uncertainty that is annoying me. And one of the prescriptions was for migraines that my doctor said should cost about 6,000 won total but ended up costing 15,000 won...for three pills! And my doctor speaks really good English so I don't think it was a communication mistake.

[denverdeath]

I know this may sound like a stupid question, but have you tried another pharmacy?

There doesn't seem to be a number on the English version of the health web-site; however, there is an E-mail:

http://www.nhic.or.kr/wbe/index.html

The Korean site has a number:

http://www.nhic.or.kr/index.html

[cypher]

Thanks...and yes, this happened at more than one pharmacy.