Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cwaddell]

Hello everyone, hope you can help with a few questions......

Health Insurance- My employer has given me the option of taking it. He says it is 80,000 W per month (paying 50/50, 160,000W total), and also that I would pay 6 months in advance, and then 6 months in advance again. As in, 480,000W first pay, and another 480,000W 6 months later. Is this normal? At first I felt this was rather high, and I thought some monkey business was afoot, but then he admitted that the past few foreign teachers have not taken the insurance. They also claim that if we don't pay it, and I DO end up in hospital, they will pay 50/50 of the costs.

Can anyone shed any light on this?
Is it best to take insurance?
Is 80,000W normal?
Is this 6 months in advance thing normal?

Thanks very much!

[cwaddell]

Oh, my salary is 2.2Mil Won, if that makes any difference. In case it works on percentages etc. Cheers!

[ttompatz]

[Ya-ta Boy]

There is something fishy going on.

It sounds to me like your boss is going to put you on an insurance policy that is not the regular one. I had a job for a time where I had to pay for long blocks of time, similar to what you mentioned.

I think it's much better to be safe than sorry. Get the insurance.

[denverdeath]

Ask your boss what insurance it is. If he tells you that it's sth other than the National Health Plan(NHIC), ask him why he is unable to sign you up for that. The web-site still says 4.48%, but ttompatz may be right as they don't always update those things in a timely fashion. On 2.2mil, you should be paying 49,280won and your employer should be paying the same. Another poster had said before that it is usu done on a three-month payment basis, but all places I've worked for(hakwons, unis, public schools) have always taken the charge out a month at a time. They tell you that they'll cover 50% of the cost if you end up in the hospital, huh? What about if you get hit by an out-of-control bus and you're in traction for three months? Do you really think they'll cover the expenses? Do you really think that you could cover your half?

http://www.nhic.or.kr/wbe/nation/nation033.html

[Milwaukiedave]

I'd listen to Denverdeath, his wisdom has helped me in some situations before.

I also agree somethings fishy. You need to start asking some questions of your employer. If they don't give you answers, then you know something is really up.

[ontheway]

Unless you like to gamble, you should get the National Health Insurance. Some other threads have indicated that it's mandatory now. The percentage rates posted by denverdeath look about right.

The hogwan is required to pay 3 months in advance, not 6. However, they are required to pay retroactively for any unpaid months PLUS 3 months in advance. If you've been working for a month or two then they'll have to pay those months too. You would have to pay your 50% share for the retroactive amounts immediately. After that, an employee should pay his share for each month on a monthly basis with his pay.

Finally, it is possible to get the National Health Insurance and still not pay in to the National Retirement Plan.

So,

Demand the insurance.

Your share should be about 50,000 per month.

You should pay monthly.

You have to pay retroactively to the first month you started working. I think you'll have to pay for that whole month. The bills are for calendar months. If you started on the 15th you'll pay to the first. So far, the National Health Insurance Plan has charged our hogwan for a whole month no matter what date that person started working.

[Son Deureo!]

It sounds to me like your boss is trying to get you to pay his contribution as well as his.

[Hollywoodaction]

He's lying. What's with these pathetic morons who nickle-and-dime on the medical insurance?

Are you also making contributions into the pension plan? He should be paying half of that, too.