Rant

During my first year we were told that the Korean government mandated that all foreign workers have their health insurance program. I found this interesting because after talking with other foreign workers, they said they have never heard this. So, if this really were government mandated, wouldn't every foreign worker know this?

So, last week at work we found out some surprising news about our Korean health insurance. We found out that this mandated insurance also includes a mandatory physical (which includes a mandatory blood test among other things). If we don't do this, the school gets fined $10,000.

I spoke with another friend of mine today and asked her if she has to go through with this physical too. I was informed that the Korean insurance is no longer mandatory. I asked another foreign friend of mine, and she said that the physical is optional for them.

I'm so confused and really quite upset. I'm not really sure where my HUGE fear of needles came from but I'd rather be dropped off the insurance than go through with this physical. It's so dumb too, we've got American insurance which once we cover our deductible, the insurance pays for the rest. All that to say, there really is no need for us to have this Korean insurance.

Also, get this... we have to fast from midnight or so the night before (which kind of makes sense because of the blood test) and a fast from water from about that point on. Does it make sense that these doctors think that drinking water will really effect a height, weight, heart, eye, or ear test, blood pressure (which mine will be sky high because of the needles), chest x-ray or urine test (which by the way; how are we supposed to do that if we don't have any water in our system?)? Urgh. Sometimes it's so easy to get frustrated with the way things go when you can't communicate directly.

It's bogus that we've got to do something that we're told is mandatory which really isn't.