Job Discussion Forums

zebra_fish2000 · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 14

Does anyone know of any good supplemental medical insurance carriers with reasonable waiting periods for pre-existing conditions?

I'm diabetic type 1, in good health, and need to get some sort of coverage before my wife and I head off to Japan in October.

I was told about IMG, but I see that they have a 24 month waiting period for pre-existing medical conditions. Ouch!

My future employer, NOVA, says I might just have to pay for my diabetic supplies out of pocket.

If anyone knows of any other options...I'm listening.

Thanks!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I work with a guy with type 2 diabetes. His supplies have been covered just like any other medication with the National Health Insurance plan here. That is, he pays 30%.

NOVA's JMA plan wants you to pay 100% of the costs up front, then you get reimbursed after a while. NOVA also gets a cut from the coverage you pay for each month. With the JMA plan, you pay 6000-7500 yen/month. With the NHI plan, you pay 2500 yen/month in your first year. It goes up tenfold in subsequent years, but you have no waiting period for that 100% cost you must pay.

So, I recommend that you come here with NOVA's JMA plan, then resign it ASAP, and get on the national health insurance plan.

zebra_fish2000 · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 14

Thank you, Glenski. It's appreciated.

Now, from what I've gathered from NOVA, I have to have insurance when I arrive in the country. But their JMA plan doesn't cover my type 1 diabetes. Therefore, I've got to pay for supplies out of pocket.

It sounds like you're quite familiar with JMA. How quickly can I get off the JMA plan? And, more importantly, how quickly can I sign up for the NHI plan? I don't suppose I could sign up with NHI before I leave? From your reply it doesn't sound like it.

NOVA suggested I look into supplemental insurance, but if there are long waiting periods, is doesn't sound like it's worth my while.

I'm still trying to make sense of all my options and the fog hasn't yet cleared.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Quit JMA upon arrival. I don't know if there is any reason you can't.

Yes, NOVA requires that you have insurance before you arrive, and yes, you can't sign up for NHI before you come.

You could sign up for Global, but I hear you still have to pay for everything up front and wait to get reimbursed, and they don't cover dental.

You will also run into headaches with some plans because Japan doesn't recognize them, so again you would have to pay for everything up front and wait to get reimbursed.

zebra_fish2000 · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 14

Thanks, Glenski! I feel a lot better knowing I won't be backed up against a prickly cactus facing an angry rattlesnake - so to speak.

One more quick question I wish I'd asked in my last posting: is there a way to check on the availability of certain prescription drugs in Japan before I arrive?

Thanks again for the help!

skarp · Joined: 30 May 2004 Posts: 50

So - what do people do about the risk of accident and sickness in Japan?

Do people buy insurance or mostly just trust to luck?

I'd rather have a minimum coverage - even just the basic to get me home again if something really bad happens.

What sort of money are we talking about?

I've been searching on the net and found a lot of variation in price.

Cheers