Job Discussion Forums

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

I haven't worked for Peppy, but AIU is the same insurance that Aeon uses (FYI, it's illegal if you are here on a working visa). I required surgery, and the hospital did indeed want me to pay the entire $10,000 bill right after the surgery. However, with a little convincing from a Japanese friend we were able to get them to contact the company and arrange to be paid directly (apparently Japan does not have the same relationship between insurance companies and hospitals as America, and hospitals generally do not contact insurance companies for you. As a Canadian I REALLY had no idea how health insurance worked!!). ]

The bottom line is that although it's a little dodgy, they will definately cover anything you need hospital-wise. For smaller claims (up to $500) I had to pay upfront and be reimbursed after (which included all my rehabilitation care costs).

A quick note for folks afraid of a commute...try asking to be placed in a smaller city. Often, due to the lack of public transportation, the apartments are considerably closer to the school and cars become an option. Some folks found smaller towns much more isolating than bigger places, but I found you learned Japanese a lot faster and the gajin community tended to be a lot more closer-knit (because there were so few of them). Smaller cities are also sometimes good for couples because the apartments tend to be a fair bit bigger too.

I agree with the poster who said that EFL teaching is generally a lonely experience...you definately need to be able to handle a lot of time on your own.

ToraGal · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 24

I got my insurance at home... they have that option...u can get med insurance at home, they don't care as long as u are covered, thats their main concers.

as for travel- out of 4 schools, two of mine were five mins away and the other two were i.5 hrs away... i took my train rides in stride- read alot, wrote letters... slept- enjoyed the scenerary- WHAT EVER ... its lovely there... u forget how long the rides are...

some days I worked one hour, and max i worked was four... i really thinks its an easy gig....

My place was big- i lived in a tiny town in nagano prefecture... it rocked!! we had about 10 other gijins... and the raddest town of 20-30 somethings in probably all of japan....

good times good times....

other private schools worked like dogs, not peppy... u just have to be keen on being silly

cheers

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Reisender · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 45

You sure about that? You mean to say that you will end up having to pay as though you were a beneficiary of the public system the entire time even though you were (necessarily) covered by the private system and were never eligible for public cover? I know liability is calculated on the previous year's declared income but this is a new (and worrying) one to me.

ellethecat · Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 75 Location: edmonton

i went on Japanese Health care because I was getting sick alot, and yes, they made me pay for the half year that i was in Japan but covered on private insurance. Fortunately, the first year is low payments, so the six months backpayment cheep. But, if Id been here into my second year... it would be expensve.
AMong the pros tho, are that I ve had to go to the hospital a few times for lung infections, and theres no hassel because Im on national health care. I pay them about a thousand yen, whicch covers my share of the visit and meds, and thats it. its conveniant. But if i ever move to a more expensive area, the premuims will kill me.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367