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natsume
Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 409
Location: Chongqing, China
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 Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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As I said, I acknowledge I have been very lucky, and your points are, and should be, taken, as well.
I actually wasn't commenting on this thread in particular, which has not had the kind of unhinged vitriol about the Japanese medical system that I have seen on other threads/forums. That's what I was getting at in my comments. |
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Cool Teacher
Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 930
Location: Here, There and Everywhere! :D
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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| rxk22 wrote: |
| natsume wrote: |
I was very lucky in Japan. I was taking meds for hypertension and a thyroid condition when I arrived, and when I settled with a GP, he wanted to find out and diagnose for himself, which I think you can count on. It is a good thing he did, because it turns out I had been misdiagnosed for years, and was on the wrong kind of medication. He sent me to a specialist who spoke English and is a member of the Endocrinological Society of America who attends conferences in the states at least twice a year, so I was in good hands. It took about three years to resolve, and now I am in complete remission. I also had to see another specialist last year. again, American educated, spoke English. Granted, the hospital where I saw both has an excellent reputation in this prefecture.
My GP has been kind and thorough in a way that I have not seen with my doctors in the states. Well, all but one. So, Japan is not necessarily a medical nightmare, as some paint. (I don't deny people's bad experiences, but people seem to be able to have bad experiences everywhere.) |
I am not implying that you'll die here, or even necessarily receive worse care. It's just that the chances of you having less than average medical attention is much more common in Japan, than in the US. My wife did her Masters on US and Japanese medical systems. She is a Japanese nurse. I am not talking outa my backside on this case. |
I went to hosptial for a long time in Japan and the treatment was very good. I told people who were nurses in England and they said "You wouldn't get that on the NHS!!!" 
I'm not making this up. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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| rxk22 wrote: |
I am not implying that you'll die here, or even necessarily receive worse care.
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Actually, yes, you're doing exactly that. You do it right below:
| Quote: |
| It's just that the chances of you having less than average medical attention is much more common in Japan, than in the US. My wife did her Masters on US and Japanese medical systems. She is a Japanese nurse. I am not talking outa my backside on this case. |
Again, anecdotal "evidence". If you look at objective international studies (as opposed to you saying what your wife reports) then Japan actually delivers better average patient outcomes compared to the US. Just as the UK and most of western Europe does too.[1]
Again, you're missing the point, all while claiming you're not doing the exact thing you're doing.
1. WHO rankings here http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
2. A more useful pointer to what I'm getting at http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0505/p02s01-uspo.html |
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Franzferdinand
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:33 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the replies guys. After giving it a lot of thought (and a few sleepless nights) I have decided to take on board your advice regarding insurance, and to follow the steps in the article in "the other place", lol (http://injapan.gaijinpot.com/2012/01/28/the-worst-case-scenario-5-simple-steps-that-could-save-your-life-l/). I've checked the embassy and consulate websites, asked my doc for a letter that I will get translated into Japanese, and contacted the my-medi-info guys, who are going to let me register and upload my health details for free 
Now I am really excited to come to Japan, so fingers crossed everything goes well with my job application, visa etc. I owe you guys, but a particular shout out to seklarwia for the detailed information and rxk22 for making me snort coffee onto my keyboard 
Don't know where in Japan I will end up, assuming that all goes well, but hope to meet one or more of you guys for a brew someday (first round is on me!) |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:43 am Post subject: |
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| Franzferdinand wrote: |
Thanks for all the replies guys. After giving it a lot of thought (and a few sleepless nights) I have decided to take on board your advice regarding insurance, and to follow the steps in the article in "the other place", lol (http://injapan.gaijinpot.com/2012/01/28/the-worst-case-scenario-5-simple-steps-that-could-save-your-life-l/). I've checked the embassy and consulate websites, asked my doc for a letter that I will get translated into Japanese, and contacted the my-medi-info guys, who are going to let me register and upload my health details for free
Now I am really excited to come to Japan, so fingers crossed everything goes well with my job application, visa etc. I owe you guys, but a particular shout out to seklarwia for the detailed information and rxk22 for making me snort coffee onto my keyboard
Don't know where in Japan I will end up, assuming that all goes well, but hope to meet one or more of you guys for a brew someday (first round is on me!) |
Good luck. If you end up in an urban area, you may not even have to get the document translated.
Hope they find a cure for getting shot in the jugular. Like they found a cure for Mr. Burn's 17 stabs in the back. |
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Franzferdinand
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:36 am Post subject: |
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Damn you rxk22 ! I had just about finished wiping the coffee off my keyboard  |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:19 am Post subject: |
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No worries man.
Also, some things to consider.
1. Your diet in Japan will def be different. More carb heavy for me.
2. Allergies. I got the cedar allergies bad in Osaka, but not in rural Chiba, where I was living in the woods.
3. Medicine. A lot less can be bought over the counter in Japan. Or at a greater price. I, when i go home for visits, bring back a big bottle of ibuprofen(I do a lot of sports). If I bought pain medicine at the store (Eve), it'd be several times the price.
Just some things to consider |
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Franzferdinand
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks a lot man. This kind of stuff is great to know about when preparing to come over, wish there was more of this kind of info available. Maybe there is, but it's not easy to find. |
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weigookin74
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 265
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| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| So, I am curious. If you're company or dispatch doesn't sign you up for medical insurance, you can go to city hall and get the government insurance. How much is it? Is it very expensive to do that? |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| weigookin74 wrote: |
| So, I am curious. If you're company or dispatch doesn't sign you up for medical insurance, you can go to city hall and get the government insurance. How much is it? Is it very expensive to do that? |
DON'T get private insurance in Japan. It's borderline illegal, as well as not worth it. Your first year, insurance is about 2000� or so a month, if that. I didn't let my dispatch company push me into Global Health insurance. It costs more, and is inconvenient. |
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quixote
Joined: 12 Dec 2011
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:04 am Post subject: |
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| rxk22 wrote: |
DON'T get private insurance in Japan. It's borderline illegal, as well as not worth it. Your first year, insurance is about 2000� or so a month, if that. I didn't let my dispatch company push me into Global Health insurance. It costs more, and is inconvenient. |
I've been meaning to ask about that: is the first year rate above for kokumin kenko hoken, shakai hoken, or something else entirely? |
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Pitarou
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 1116
Location: Narita, Japan
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| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| quixote wrote: |
| rxk22 wrote: |
DON'T get private insurance in Japan. It's borderline illegal, as well as not worth it. Your first year, insurance is about 2000� or so a month, if that. I didn't let my dispatch company push me into Global Health insurance. It costs more, and is inconvenient. |
I've been meaning to ask about that: is the first year rate above for kokumin kenko hoken, shakai hoken, or something else entirely? |
It's for kokumin kenko hoken (a.k.a. kokuho).
Your kokuho charge is calculated from your previous year's income. When you first arrive your previous year's income is effectively zero, so you are charged next to nothing. In my first year I paid just JPY 1100 / month.
You are legally required to be on kokuho, shakai hoken or equivalent as soon as you take up residence in Japan. This law isn't actively enforced -- nobody will arrest you if you don't join -- but if you delay, you'll be asked to pay for up to two years of missed payments, so if you're going to join, join ASAP.
I recommend joining. In the short term, it's really cheap. In the long term, if you don't join kokuho you'll have trouble when you change employers. |
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quixote
Joined: 12 Dec 2011
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Pitarou wrote: |
It's for kokumin kenko hoken (a.k.a. kokuho).
Your kokuho charge is calculated from your previous year's income. When you first arrive your previous year's income is effectively zero, so you are charged next to nothing. In my first year I paid just JPY 1100 / month.
You are legally required to be on kokuho, shakai hoken or equivalent as soon as you take up residence in Japan. This law isn't actively enforced -- nobody will arrest you if you don't join -- but if you delay, you'll be asked to pay for up to two years of missed payments, so if you're going to join, join ASAP.
I recommend joining. In the short term, it's really cheap. In the long term, if you don't join kokuho you'll have trouble when you change employers. |
Thank you for the clarification. As for enrolling, I fully intend to enroll in the National Health Insurance, whether on my bill or the company's. Ideally, I'd like to contribute to the insurance+pension plan as I intend to be in the country for more than one year.
I apologize for thread-jacking, and encourage others to bring us back on topic, but if the following could be answered via PM it would be greatly appreciated:
What first year insurance scheme would you suggest for someone like myself, whose company will likely not subsidize Shakai Hoken expenses? |
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Franzferdinand
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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I am afraid that I can not add anything to the discussion on the national health in Japan, but in case anyone is interested or needs to know, I thought I would add what I learned from the Korea forums.
Working in South Korea was another option I was considering, especially since the job market seems to be pretty tight in Japan right now from what I can tell. So, I asked basically the same questions about working in Korea with a pre-existing condition in the Korea discussion forum on Daves.
The replies were overwhelmingly negative, including that the quality of health care is not good, the doctor's would not be interested in your medical history, and you would not pass a health check that you need to go through to get the visa unless you lied on the application.
So, considering the fact that I have no interest in working in China, have heard too many horror stories, I guess Japan it is. I reckon if I am thorough in my preparation, and get my medical history and records in order in case something happens, then Japan is my best bet.
Having said that, and knowing how things can get blown out of proportion on forums, if anyone has worked in South Korea I would appreciate it if they could confirm whether the above seems accurate or not.
Many thanks again guys, this site is a great resource thanks to you all. |
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