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Nugget
Joined: 24 May 2006
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject: Need to go to dentist...but JMA doesnt cover dental?! |
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In need of a clean up for a while (bleeding gums and all that). Asked my supervisor (i work at the MM centre) whether dental clean ups are included in my JMA (basic) plan and he said that it probably isnt. Since im on JMA, im not on the National Health Insurance, so how much will a regular clean up cost? Has anyone in Osaka been in the same situation as me? Also could anyone advise me as to how i can change my insurance from JMA to the National Insurance plan? Ive been here since Sept, so is it too late to register at the Local Ward office? Did i need to get as soon as i arrived/got my gaijin card??
Any help would be much appreciated, oh my poor gums!! |
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bornslippy1981
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 271
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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JMA doesn't cover dental.
Go to your ward office and say, "Kokumin kenko hoken ni kanyu shi tai (one word, but it got "beeped") no desuga." This will tell them you want to enroll in the national health insurance plan.
Since you've been here a few months, you can still enroll. I didn't enroll until 17 months after I was in Japan, and luckily I didn't have to make any back payments. Do a search under my name and look for any posting in August, when I explained my situation.
The payments are rather low the first year (3-4000 Yen) but will go up next year based on your income. Currently I pay 14,000 Yen/month for this plan, and it pays 70% of dental. I had my teeth cleaned last week, and paid 2350 Yen.
You might need Nova to sign some form acknowledging your employment. Don't be afraid of this though. It's not the Shakai Hoken that they won't enroll employees into, so you should be fine.
Be sure to cancel your JMA before the end of December so you don't get billed for the February premium. I think when you receive your salary on December 15, it will have the deduction for January.
As for an English speaking dentist in Osaka, I can't help.
For people in the Tokyo area looking for a good, English speaking dentist, I went to this lady - http://www.iihani.com/index.php. I was very happy with the service.
Good luck. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:29 am Post subject: Re: Need to go to dentist...but JMA doesnt cover dental?! |
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| Nugget wrote: |
In need of a clean up for a while (bleeding gums and all that). Asked my supervisor (i work at the MM centre) whether dental clean ups are included in my JMA (basic) plan and he said that it probably isnt. Since im on JMA, im not on the National Health Insurance, so how much will a regular clean up cost? Has anyone in Osaka been in the same situation as me? Also could anyone advise me as to how i can change my insurance from JMA to the National Insurance plan? Ive been here since Sept, so is it too late to register at the Local Ward office? Did i need to get as soon as i arrived/got my gaijin card??
Any help would be much appreciated, oh my poor gums!! |
Pay for the dentist out of your pocket. Simple. A regular clean up is less that 5000 yen. Since you mentioned the MM centre, I assume you're in Osaka. There are many good dentists in Osaka. Ask some people that you work with to recommend a dentist and drop in, or make an appointment. You don't have to worry about any insurance issues. |
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yamanote senbei
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 435
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:44 am Post subject: |
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JMA insurance is a scam. Do a search on it.
http://www.seekjapan.jp/article.php?id=500&sm=2
As you are a Nova employee, Nova should legally have put you in Shakai Hoken, Japan's employee health insurance plan with Nova paying 50% of your premiums. The insurance people here are suggesting you sign up for at your ward office is for the the retired, self-employed or unemployed. It provides less benefits than the insurance Nova should legally provide you with.
JMA is not proper health insurance, it's travel insurance underwritten by Interglobal, a NZ company that is not licenced to sell insurance in Japan. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:29 am Post subject: |
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What makes it an even BIGGER scam, is that if you go through Interglobal directly, most of their health plans DO include dental.
FWIW, it's not illegal for these guys to sell insurance in Japan -- it's illegal for people who live here longer-term NOT to be on the national system... There are TONS of private health insurance companies out there and Japanese people are said to be among the most insured people on earth -- but they buy ADDITIONAL insurance from these companies to "top-up" their national plans...
I suppose that if you have a lot of problems and go to the doctor/dentist a lot, topping things up so you have 100% coverage instead of the regular 70% might be a good idea... But I have no idea where the break-even point would be for that. |
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yamanote senbei
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 435
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:55 am Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
| FWIW, it's not illegal for these guys to sell insurance in Japan |
It is illegal.
http://www.mizuho-sc.com/english/ebond/law/insurance.html
III. License (Article 3)
No person shall carry on insurance business without obtaining a license from the Minister of Finance.
XIII. Foreign Insurers (Articles 185 to 240)
A foreign insurer shall not be allowed to carry on insurance business unless it establishes its branch office in Japan and obtains the license from the Minister of Finance. A foreign insurer shall also be required to conduct the insurance business only within the scope of its license and through its branch office. For the purpose of licensing foreign insurers, the same provisions as apply to domestic insurers shall be instituted.
A foreign insurer having no branch office in Japan shall not conclude any insurance contracts (excluding those stipulated in the Cabinet Ordinance) on persons residing or property located in Japan, with the exception of insurance contracts for which the permission thereof from the Minister of Finance has been received.
Nova used to have JMA arrange insurance through a reputable Japanese insurance company, but that insurance company backed out after the investigation last year. Nova then had to go to New Zealand to find someone to continue the charade with. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| yamanote senbei wrote: |
| A foreign insurer shall not be allowed to carry on insurance business unless it establishes its branch office in Japan and obtains the license from the Minister of Finance. A foreign insurer shall also be required to conduct the insurance business only within the scope of its license and through its branch office. |
I use InterGlobal and am quite happy with their coverage. Here's a copy and paste from an email a while ago, based in Osaka.
Kumi Hirayama
Customer Support Team
InterGlobal Japan Co., Ltd.
3F Koike Koraibashi Bldg.
1-3-4 Koraibashi
Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0043
Tel: 0120-76-7703
Fax: 06-4706-7702
Email: [email protected] |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:42 am Post subject: |
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I guess you got to be pretty desperate to go to a Japanese dentist.
Anyone ever get their teeth cleaned and they only did your 4 top teeth in the front? Happened to my friend and when they asked about it, the dentist said, "but those are what people see".  |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:15 am Post subject: |
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I'm still looking for a dentist. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd be happy to hear them (around Tokyo)...
I am looking for someone who:
A) is competent (so that if I ever go to a dentist in the U.S. or Canada he won't scream "OH MY GAWD! WHAT DID THOSE JAPANESE BUTCHERS DO TO YOUR TEETH?"
B) accepts Japanese national health insurance
C) won't make me come back 10 times just to clean my teeth.
D) keeps flexible working hours
Criterion B is flexible, but only if criteria A, C and D have been satisfied. |
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yamanote senbei
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 435
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: |
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| canuck wrote: |
| I use InterGlobal and am quite happy with their coverage. Here's a copy and paste from an email a while ago, based in Osaka. |
InterGlobal is a scam and that's why Nova's JMA is using it to help Nova evade enrolling their teachers in real insurance. Even if you don't work for Nova, would you trust your insurance to a company that isn't even licenced?
The General Insurance Association of Japan doesn't list InterGlobal or their underwriter IHI danmark as being a licenced member or as a licenced non-member:
http://www.sonpo.or.jp/e/faq/e_q01_players.html
Nova's JMA used Mitsui Sumitomo, a licenced insurer, until recently. |
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bornslippy1981
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 271
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
I'm still looking for a dentist. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd be happy to hear them (around Tokyo)...
I am looking for someone who:
A) is competent (so that if I ever go to a dentist in the U.S. or Canada he won't scream "OH MY GAWD! WHAT DID THOSE JAPANESE BUTCHERS DO TO YOUR TEETH?"
B) accepts Japanese national health insurance
C) won't make me come back 10 times just to clean my teeth.
D) keeps flexible working hours
Criterion B is flexible, but only if criteria A, C and D have been satisfied. |
Jim,
Check out the link I provided earlier in this thread.
Regarding your points:
A) It was a little different than my dentist in the US. Back home I usually have my teeth cleaned first, and then the dentist comes in, checks my name on the chart (even though I've been going there twice a year for 15 years), comes about 6" from my face, and acts happy. The dentist in Tokyo checked my teeth first for cavities, and then said I'd get a cleaning. Also, she didn't bother with the mindless chit chat - "Can you use chopsticks," or "Do you like Japanese food."
The cleaning was slightly different, although, with new technology, maybe the same at home now (I had a cleaning last time I was home about 15 months ago). At home I remember the hygientist using a scrapper a lot, but the Japanese hygientist used a machine most of the time. It sounded like my teeth were getting welded, and with the water constantly being sprayed into my mouth, I thought I had little sparks flying around. Also, I didn't have a break to spit because there was a tube sucking all the air and water out continuously. They didn't floss my teeth after the brushing, and I didn't get to choose what flavor toothpaste. Also, there was no overhead TV.
I was happy with the cleaning, and found it very thorough. I'll go back to her again.
B) Yes.
C) They told me to come back in 6 months for a cleaning.
D) I called on a Friday afternoon and had a 10 AM appointment for the next day. I think they're closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
Highly recommend this dentist.
Oh, and I was also happy they didn't give me a point card when I left.
I'll even include the link again, instead of you scrolling up - http://www.iihani.com/index.php |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Ummm, you people do realise that cleaning isn't covered until the national insurance scheme, don't you? (Yes, I know you can find dentists that _will_ clean under the scheme, I'm just saying that it's not officially covered IIRC)
| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
I'm still looking for a dentist. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd be happy to hear them (around Tokyo)...
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Find the local JET Prefectural Advisor at the kencho and ask them for the list of dentists they maintain. It should list names, locations, contact details and comments from past JET clients that have used them. Best resource in Japan on dentists and doctors IMO.
| Quote: |
I am looking for someone who:
A) is competent (so that if I ever go to a dentist in the U.S. or Canada he won't scream "OH MY GAWD! WHAT DID THOSE JAPANESE BUTCHERS DO TO YOUR TEETH?"
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In my direct experience of dentists in New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Singapore and the US, I can safely safe that the US dentists have been the worst I have ever dealt with overall. The two dentists I went to in Japan, meanwhile, were excellent. :) (All the more reason to avoid the butchers that do exist by making use of the lists the JET programme ken PA's maintain!) |
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yamanote senbei
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 435
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:43 am Post subject: |
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From the article that Y.S. linked to above (as interesting as it was)...
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| "I would put modern Japan at the same level as Europe, perhaps ahead of the U.K.," says Hayashi, who spent 18 months doing research at Manchester University and has just completed a study of the U.K. system. |
That isn't saying much. 
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yamanote senbei
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 435
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:43 am Post subject: |
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"You'll look Shagadelic with these set of choppers baby. YEAH!!!"
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