Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Voyeur]

I imagine I will be signing a standard contract as pertains to health insurance i.e. 50% for the Korean National plan.

Matters on the hiomefront here have taken some horrendous turns for the nightmarish and the end result is that a beutifully planned launch to my ESL experience has now been scrubbed. Instead of tons of money and all the right things that one might need to see oneself through the first say 10 weeks before the money rolls in on the Korean side, I am basically destitute.

I barely have $1000 Canadian that I will be able to bring with me. Plus I heard there may be airport taxes to pay. So do I need to go out and buy any kind of Health Insurance right away? I heard that one doesn't get covered on the Korean end for the frst month or two thus making at least a month of Blue Cross type coverage 100% mandatory.

I did try to search this topic but cold not find an answer. Any help would be appreciated as I am trying to save as much money to eat and for unexpected expenses as possible. Extra Health Insurance I imagine costs a lot for a month.

[justagirl]

Don't bother. Medical care is cheap if you do end up getting sick. If it's only for a month or so until your boss provides the medical insurance card, you can tide it over. I just did--worked for 6 weeks before getting mine and no problem. Last year I worked without one at all. My husband worked 2 years without one.

PS--you'll get paid 4 weeks after you get here, not 10.



justagirl

[Voyeur]

So it takes 4-5 weeks for any kind of coverage to kick in?

Medical care i.e. Doctors is not something I am woried about so much.

However, what about hospitalization and emergency care. Is it a bad idea to go 4-5 weeks with no coverage? And is the standard coverage you get with the job even gonna do it if you get hit by a car or whatever?

[ulsanchris]

if you are really worried than buy travel health insurance. its about a dollar a day and you can get it for a month or two. $1000 cdn should be enough to see you through to your first pay check.

[schwa]

Some good advice above. Dont sweat it unduly. Minor medical needs -- full cost out-of-pocket is cheap or chances are your director has connections with medical specialists (you might be teaching their kids) & costs will be waved off. Some horrendous disease or accident (god forbid) wont be so well-covered by Korean insurance anyway. Just determine yourself to stay well.

[Voyeur]

Thanks.

I had heard that it maight cast me like $150 CDN to cover the first 5 weeks. I guess that was way off. Thanks.