Job Discussion Forums

[bigjoe]

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.)?

[Rooster.]

Any private insurance is to supplement the National Health Insurance.

[TokyoLiz]

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

[kzjohn]

(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.

[Lamarr]

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.

[TokyoLiz]

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.

[marley'sghost]