Our First Korean Healthcare Experience
This week our family was hit with a minor stomach bug. It all began on Sunday with Joanna. By Monday, she was still lethargic and had thrown up, so we decided to take her to a local pediatrician.
When we arrived, we signed in at the front desk. Stephanie had to use a translator app since none of the staff spoke English, but the process was surprisingly simple. By the time I finished parking the car (which is its own adventure in Korea), Stephanie and Jojo were already seated in the lobby waiting.
The lobby itself was bustling and busy. There were at least fifteen people waiting to be seen, and I was certain we were in for a long wait.
But about ten minutes later, we were called back. We were immediately ushered into an exam room with both the nurse and the doctor. Five minutes after that, we were checking out and heading next door to the pharmacy to pick up Joanna’s prescription. From start to finish, we spent less than thirty minutes at the doctor’s office. At the pharmacy next door we handed our prescription to the pharmacist and were out the door with medicine in hand in less than 5 minutes.
As if that weren’t impressive enough, then came the cost.
We do not yet have insurance in Korea. For foreign workers, national health insurance doesn’t become active until six months after arrival, so we were fully expecting a hefty bill. Instead, the total out-of-pocket cost for the visit—without insurance—was 33,000 Korean won. That’s roughly $22 USD.
When we began exploring our call to international ministry, we prayed and asked God to provide a place with good healthcare. Moving our family overseas meant trusting the Lord not only with ministry, but with the everyday realities of life—especially the health of our children. Sitting in that doctor’s office, watching how quickly and kindly Joanna was cared for, we were reminded that God had already gone before us. We are deeply thankful that He answered that prayer.
Small moments like this continue to reassure us that the Lord is faithfully providing for our family as we serve here, even in ways we didn’t fully anticipate.
Pray for us. Joanna has recovered but only after passing the bug to June and myself (James). Stephanie with her extraordinary mom powers has fought off the germs successfully so far.
