Job Discussion Forums

muckhead · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 21 Location: San Diego, CA USA

Hello to any readers,
I have been searching a lot on here and elsewhere about health insurance in Japan. Unfortunately, my questions are a bit more rare than most and not easily answered. Maybe someone can help me...

I have a pre-existing medical condition known as Narcolepsy. No, I'm not lazy. If you don't know much about it, I would prefer your jokes and, or criticisms to be muted.

Here, in the states, this automatically disqualifies me from attaining any helth insurance unless it is provided by an employer that actually provides health insurance. Therefore, I pay up to $150 a month for my medication.

I have been looking at job offers but every time, when it comes down to it, these job offers explicitly state that they will not cover anyone with a pre-existing condition.

Of course, I do not need to let my employer know. However, if I do not let my employer know and I need to find health insurance on my own, is that possible? No private insurance company will take me here no matter how much I am willing to pay. Is it the same in Japan?

My next question is what if I try to do what I do now (be without insurance and pay cash for my doctor visits and medication)? Will that surely financially break me? Is it legal? Dang, I really need help on this!

Finally, is there any way for me to find out what it costs to obtain certain medications in certain quantities if I can go uninsured?

I thank you for any guidance that you may be able to give me. I really need some good, solid advice.

abufletcher · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:03 am Post subject:

I have epilepsy and it's no problem whatsoever here in Japan. There are no "pre-existing conditions" exclusion clauses in the Japanese National Health scheme and I've gotten excellent treatment. Your health is by and large your own business.

All I can say about medical coverage in the US (if you're not lucky enough to have it through your work) is that the situation is totally f**ked up. Both my wife and I, as well as two of our three children, have some form of epilepsy. No major insurance compary would accept us. I felt like a leper. The only coverage we could get was a $3,500 per year (per person) deductible plan and even that was costing a fortune. As private citizens we were just about uninsurable. Then my wife gets a factory job and suddenly we are all perfectly acceptable under her company plan by the same company that had flatly rejected to insure us the month before. What gives with THAT!!!

Americans, it's time to wake up and establish a national health system like the rest of the civilized world!

abufletcher · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:12 am Post subject:

BTW, health costs in Japan -- even if you're not covered by any plan -- are only a small fraction of the absolutely insane US prices or health services. My son recently took a 15 minute ride in an ambulance and we were billed over $1000 (luckily that is also covered by my wife's insurance). Another time, while on vacation from my job in the Gulf, my son needed 4 stitches. Well that cost us nearly $500 at a walk-in clinic.

Here in Japan you pay a normal amount for services -- not the amount inflated by spiraling malpractice insurance costs in the US. Also doctors don't live like rock stars. Most Japanese doctors make a very modest income. A visit to a neurologist is unlikely to cost more than about $100 even without insurance. Under the Japanese national health plan a trip to the neurologist and a three month prescription for both me and my wife would typically cost us about $50.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

I know what narcolepsy is. I just worry about what happens in the middle of a lesson when you get an attack or ten minute break between lessons. There may be drugs for it but im not sure how it will go over with employers (and students) here.

I believe National insurance will cover you, and without insurance, drugs and prescriptions are expensive. with NHI you pay 30% of the bill plus monthlt premiums.

muckhead · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 21 Location: San Diego, CA USA

abufletcher,

Do you mind if I private message you or email you to get more info? I was hoping to find someone like you. My e-mail is [email protected] if you would like to e-mail me first so you don't have to post it in here.

Thanks!

abufletcher · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:23 pm Post subject:

I don't know what other information I have to give but go ahead an PM me.

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

Re. pre-existing conditions, I read this on the thread, "ECC and the "union" fighting to get NHI" It's the 10th post down on that thread:

"I was under the impression that pre-existing conditions are NOT covered under national health insurance. It says so in their brochure (although it is unclear to me just what conditions those may be)."

Everything else I've read on the Japan forum has said that pre-existing conditions are covered, but that post makes it less clear. Anyone know?

Mep