Health
Health and the provision of healthcare is a universal worry when traveling abroad. In Japan, the government offers National Health Insurance, as well as several other options, which can provide coverage for you and your family. However, Japan’s National Health Insurance does not automatically cover everyone living in Japan, and it will not cover some major procedures. The two main things to do to address healthcare are to secure insurance coverage and find a physician.
Short Trip
If you are staying in Japan for less than one year, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance. InsureMyTrip.com allows you to compare quotes from leading travel insurers to find the best coverage.
Insurance
National Health Insurance
National Health Insurance (NHI), or Kokumin Kenko Hoken, is the type of insurance most commonly used by foreigners. It is primarily for people who are studying or self-employed. You are required to enroll if you will stay in Japan for one year or longer. Premiums are decided based on how much tax you pay, so it is ideal for dependants without income. It covers 70% of most medical costs, or 80% for infants less than three years of age. For more information, visit the Forum of National Health Insurance website.
・Insurance Premiums
Insurance premiums are calculated depending on the ward, city, town, or village in which you live. All persons aged 40 to 64 years old must pay the Nursing Insurance premium at the same time.
・How to Pay Insurance Premiums
Insurance premiums may be paid in installments at the local ward, city, town, or village office, banks or post offices. Premiums can also be paid by automatic debit from a designated bank account.
・Insurance Card
Each insured person (or each household in some municipalities, towns, or villages) is provided with one copy of the health insurance card. If you present this card at the counter of the medical facility where you receive treatment, you will only have to pay 30% (20% for infants less than three years of age) of the charged medical expenses.
Persons age 70-74 (limited to individuals born from October 1, 1932 and on) will, in addition to the health insurance card, been issued an Advanced Age Recipient Certificate. If you present these two cards at the counter of the medical facility, you will only have to pay 10% or 20% of the charged medical expenses. The Senior Citizen Benefits Card indicates whether the payment is 10% or 20%, determined by your income (the percentage is tentatively set to increase to 20% or 30% respectively, effective April 2009).
Note that part of the cost of medication for outpatients and the cost of meals during hospitalization must be paid separately.
Social Insurance
Social Insurance, or Kenko Hoken, is insurance provided by your employer. Regardless of nationality, all regular workers are required to join the Employees' Health Insurance System and the Employees' Pension Insurance System. Social Insurance also provides 70% medical coverage. To learn more, visit the Social Insurance Agency website.
・Insurance Premiums
The Employees' Health Insurance premium is calculated by multiplying the subscriber's standard monthly income, as determined on the basis of his or her salary, by the insurance premium rate. The subscriber and employer each pay half of the premium. When receiving a bonus payment, the amount is determined by multiplying the standard bonus value by the insurance premium rate. This shall also be paid by the subscriber and employer on a 50-50 basis.
・Insurance Benefits
Insurance covers illness, injury, childbirth, and death for the insured person as well as his/her dependents. By presenting the insurance card when receiving treatment for an illness or injury, insured persons less than 70 years of age and their dependents pay 30% (20% for infants less than three years of age) of charged medical expenses. Insured persons and their dependents age 70 or above will pay 10% of charged medical expenses, or 20% if the person concerned obtains income above a fixed amount (the percentage is tentatively set to increase to 20% or 30% respectively, effective April 2009). The cost of meals during hospitalization, however, must be paid separately.
Be aware that you cannot receive treatment paid through health insurance for business-related diseases or injuries, in principle. In the case of traffic accidents, it is necessary to file a report to receive treatment paid through health insurance.
Nursing Insurance
The Nursing Insurance system is one in which all members of society support each other and bear the cost of long-term care for the elderly as a group. People can choose the necessary long-term services themselves and take advantage of those services.
If you are 40 years of age or older, have been a resident for one year or longer, and have completed foreign resident registration, you must enroll in the Nursing Insurance system. People aged 65 or older are described as Category 1 insurance holders, while people aged 40 to 64, who are also in a medical insurance scheme, are Category 2 insurance holders. Different premium calculations, payment methods, and conditions for benefits and services apply to Categories 1 and 2. For detailed information, visit the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Long-term Care Insurance web page.
Additional Coverage
International insurance providers offer comprehensive coverage for people living abroad. Some companies offer plans for people who live abroad or travel frequently, children studying at international schools, and students involved in study abroad programs. Visit Business.com to find a list of international insurance providers.
Finding a Doctor
Even if you are bilingual, you may want to research physicians in your area that speak English. To read about insurance, bringing prescription medications into Japan and more, visit the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.
Locating a Doctor can be a difficult task. For a list of English speaking healthcare facilities and other medical resources in Japan, visit the US Embassy website. Also try searching the Himawari database of doctors. This search engine allows you to perform a language and specialty search by location, and will even tell you how proficient the doctors are in your native language.
Another option is to call the Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) at (03) 5774-0992. This non-profit organization features an English information hotline. TELL has close relations with most foreign embassies and can be relied on to give accurate and trustworthy referrals.
Hospitals
If you need to get to a hospital, the easiest way is to jump in a taxi. Byoin is Japanese for hospital, and a taxi driver should know to take you to the nearest one if you say it. Most drivers in major cities will also understand the word “hospital.” Detailed information about hospital procedures, as well as a list of common terms and medical expressions in Japanese, can be found at the Tokyo Tech International Student Center webpage.
In the event of an emergency (fire, rescue, ambulance, etc.), dial 119 immediately. To report crimes and accidents, dial 110 (119 will also work). The call is free and there is a 24-hour English service. Try to speak clearly and calmly over the phone. Be sure to state whether you are calling for a fire (kaji), rescue (kyujo), or ambulance (kyukyusha) and remember to give an accurate address.
Follow these parameters when calling: “ Type of Emergency. My name is Name , and we have a Situation here.” If you can, give a good landmark that is nearby. Always leave your cellular phone on after making an emergency call.
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