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International Health Insurance

 
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bigjoe



Joined: 20 Oct 2014
Posts: 48
Location: Honolulu, USA

PostPosted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:40 am    Post subject: International Health Insurance Reply with quote

If I buy international health coverage, e.g. from Aetna, do I still have to buy into the National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) when I am living in Japan? Also, how is the NHI compared to private insurance, and can you please describe your experiences with health insurance (NHI or private) in Japan (e.g. when you had to go to the hospital because you injured yourself, needed a surgery, etc.)?
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Rooster.



Joined: 13 Mar 2012
Posts: 247

PostPosted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Any private insurance is to supplement the National Health Insurance.

Last edited by Rooster. on Sun Apr 10, 2016 2:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
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TokyoLiz



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

By law, all residents are required to be on the national health insurance plan.

It may be wise to have a private plan to supplement NHI.

See
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=107607&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
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kzjohn



Joined: 30 Apr 2014
Posts: 277

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

(a) With your international insurance, you'll be SOL any time you visit some clinic or hospital. They'll want the full cost up front (if they even agree to see you) and it's you that will have to sort it out with your insurer, not them.

(b) Hope and pray that nothing traumatic happens. A sudden illness, a minor accident, etc.
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Lamarr



Joined: 27 Sep 2010
Posts: 190

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the past, plenty of people, especially those coming in to teach at English schools, had private insurance (you're officially supposed to have NHI, but they don't seem to enforce the law strictly), though the ones I've seen tend to be more like travel insurance and don't provide particularly comprehensive coverage. It's probably OK if you're younger and don't have a history of illness, and don't participate in any activities where you might injure yourself.

I think the NHI still covers 70% of doctor's fees, so you have to pay 30% anyway. The first year on that, you pay a nominal fee (5,000-yen a month maybe?). From your second year, you'll pay something in the region of 8-9% of your previous year's income for kokumin kenko hoken (unless the amount has changed).

It should be noted that, from October this year, all companies employing 500+ workers will HAVE to enrol all employees working 20+ hours a week into shakai hoken, which is the other system (health + pension). Some information about it here:

http://generalunion.org/Joomla/index.php/legal-issues/1346-shakai-hoken-laws-are-changing-in-2016-how-will-you-be-affected

There are stories flying around that some companies (such as Interac) are splitting up their business into different companies, each employing less than 500 people, in order to skirt the new regulation.
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TokyoLiz



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 11:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go with NHI. If the worst happens, you're covered and paid up. Don't let some sketchy hakken company convince you to depend on a private insurer.

When you need help in your own language and you're in Tokyo, or around the Kanto area, check with http://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/qq/qq13enmnlt.asp or for Japan-wide help, http://japanhealthinfo.com

Either service can provide contact with doctors who speak other languages, and the services are free or very low cost.
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marley'sghost



Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 255

PostPosted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lamarr wrote:


It should be noted that, from October this year, all companies employing 500+ workers will HAVE to enrol all employees working 20+ hours a week into shakai hoken, which is the other system (health + pension). Some information about it here:

http://generalunion.org/Joomla/index.php/legal-issues/1346-shakai-hoken-laws-are-changing-in-2016-how-will-you-be-affected

There are stories flying around that some companies (such as Interac) are splitting up their business into different companies, each employing less than 500 people, in order to skirt the new regulation.


That's exactly what they did. "Interac" is now about half a dozen "separate" regional companies, who just happen to turn over some of their payroll functions to another independent company called Interac located in Tokyo.......
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