Korean Job Discussion Forums

Toast and Kimchee · Joined: 12 Feb 2007

Does anybody have info on the National Korean Insurance and what it covers? In particular, I take prescriptions daily and I'd like to find out how much of this cost will be out of pocket.

Thanks. Cool

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

I'm not sure what you are taking, but unless its brand new or something, should be really cheap.

My birth control is $35/pack co-pay, with my insruance convering the rest in the US
Here its $7/ pack with no insurance

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

If you get a prescription from a doctor, Korean National Health Insurance pays for 70% of the cost of the doctor visit and the prescription.

Toast and Kimchee · Joined: 12 Feb 2007

I'm taking an anti-seizure drug for epilepsy. Since I have to take it daily it runs about $180-$200 USD per month. I am currently without health coverage so this really sucks. It would certainly be nice if the Korean insurance covered 70%. That would certainly take the sting out of it. Is there anyway I can verify this (without making a big issue to my potentially new employer about my condition)?

poet13 · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

I hate to say it, but in Korea, privacy is not valued as much as in the west...any west I think.
Whatever your medical condition is, it is likely to be a topic a discussion among your colleagues sooner or later.
I have pneumonia in both lungs. I've been taking six different meds three times a day since late January. Tonight an old adult student picked me up from the airport shuttle. I work in a middle school. None of my students are related to him. He knew about my issue, including that while I was here I was receiving IV drugs for it. Where he learned it, I have no idea. But he sure knew a lot!
The good part is, my meds cost me very little. I don't know exactly how much was covered by my insurance, but I pay only about 12000 won for one weeks supply.