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GreenCardigan
Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Japan
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:32 pm Post subject: Japanese National Health Care Insurance |
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Hi all,
I have a question regarding the Japanese National Health Care Scheme. Here's my situation:
I know that by law, non-Japanese (foreigners) staying in Japan over a year must be enrolled in the national health care insurance plan (paying into it).
I taught for two years on the JET programme and was covered under the National Health Care system. I stayed in Japan after JET, but was no longer covered under the National health care system. Since September 1st 2007, I have not been covered under any plan.
However, I would now like to obtain health insurance. I've looked at a couple of private insurers as well as the government plan, offered through ku-yakusho to self-employed or part-time workers.
My question is: if I enroll in the Japanese Government plan will I be forced to pay retroactively from the date I was last covered? Or do I simply begin paying from the date that I enroll in the National health care plan for foreigners?
This question is a toughie. So far I've stumped everyone I've asked.
GreenCardigan, |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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As I understand your situation, you've not left the country, you will be required to pay retrospectively. I could be wrong, but I would be surprised if I was. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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That NHI stuff is pretty sticky. Markle may be right in that you will have to pay retroactively. For how long? Year? Year and a half?
Maybe you could take a trip overseas and say you left the country.
If you had Shakai Hoken, maybe you can switch to Kokumin Hoken this time around. |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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Why didn't you remain on the health insurance plan?
You will indeed be required to make backpayments up to 2 years' worth. Negotiate with the ward office on making monthly payments instead of one big one. |
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reasonJP
Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 48
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:41 am Post subject: |
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You will have to pay retroactively from when you were last covered unless you have moved to a different city hall/ ward office's jurisdiction in that period, in which case you will pay retroactively from the date you moved. |
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GreenCardigan
Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Japan
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:45 am Post subject: |
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Here`s a question: if I go with a private insurer and do not re-enter the public one, will I be forced to pay retroactively for the publich healthcare that I didn't use?
Furthermore, what would you guys suggest is best: private or public
Finally, any good private insurers you could recommend
My timeline is as follows:
July 31st 2007(leave JET)
September 1st 2007 to March 31st 2008, unisured.
April 1st to May 31st, insured under the Japanese National Health System through employer.
June 1st to present, unisured.
(December-small trip to Singapore; could this be used in any way as a loophole�)
Glen, I quit the National Health Insurance the same time I left the JET Programme and, as I was not sure how long I would stay in the country, decided not to enroll into the public nor a private plan. |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:13 am Post subject: |
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If you get a private plan, there is nothing to make backpayments on with national. Only if you sign up (re-sign up) for it will you have to make those backpayments.
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Glen, I quit the National Health Insurance the same time I left the JET Programme and, as I was not sure how long I would stay in the country, decided not to enroll into the public nor a private plan. |
Ok, I can understand that, but what did you do work-wise from August to April (8 whole months!)? Or, maybe the rhetorical question should be, what were you thinking in regards to insurance during that time, nearly a year? Oh, well. Your call. I worked with a guy who never had ANY insurance the whole 5 years he was here!
Private vs. public
Aside from the backpayment issues, be careful about what you get privately. Compare what they cover and more importantly how they pay. Some private ones ask that you pay 100% up front, then wait a month before they reimburse you. Not all private plans are accepted by all hospitals and clinics, too, so check into that. If you didn't have this backpayment shadow looming over you, I'd say go with national. |
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GreenCardigan
Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Japan
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:20 am Post subject: |
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Glen, appreciate your responses. However, my questions pertain to health-care insurance and not what I was doing work-wise. Anyhow, I appreciate your advice.
Any good private insurers you can recommend
I`ve got three options 1)public (make the back payments) 2) private (no back payments) 3) no insurance
Funnily enough, I`m leaning towards number 3.  |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:54 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't do number 3. As well as it being technically illegal, I know too many people who have been in traffic accidents in Japan, and they could have been millions of yen out of pocket/in debt if they hadn't had insurance.
Go with GlobalHealth or a similar private insurer if you don't want to make back payments- it's only about �10,000 a month at current exchange rates and you don't risk financial ruin, or your health. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Apsara wrote: |
Go with GlobalHealth or a similar private insurer if you don't want to make back payments- it's only about �10,000 a month at current exchange rates and you don't risk financial ruin, or your health. |
Trick is how long will you be in Japan. Just a couple of years, I would say go for the cheaper (way cheaper) private insurance. If you want to say a long time (3+, family, etc.), not being in one of the NHI plans could be a problem. And the back payments would be even worse 5 years down the road.
I am going through something kind of similar to the OP, so I have been following this thread closely. Thanks, Glenski, for the info. |
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Glenski

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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Although I don't know private insurance companies, I would definitely NOT opt for no insurance at all. Too dangerous here. |
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GreenCardigan
Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 50 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:42 am Post subject: |
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"Trick is how long will you be in Japan. Just a couple of years, I would say go for the cheaper (way cheaper) private insurance."
Are there any private insurers you can recommend? Websites that you know of that you could pass along?
I've done a bit of searching and I haven't been able to find much else besides GlobalHealth. Strange that they'd be the only ones.
I guess it's appropriate to say that I wish everyone good health.
Green Cardigan, |
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reasonJP
Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 48
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:48 am Post subject: |
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Glenski wrote: |
Although I don't know private insurance companies, I would definitely NOT opt for no insurance at all. Too dangerous here. |
Definitely true, although sometimes things cost less than you'd expect. A couple of years ago I needed emergency dental treatment and root canals after an infection and the whole messy process with seemingly endless follow up appointments only came to 25k. I was on private health insurance at the time and decided not to go through the hassle of claiming and screwing the no claims bonus. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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GreenCardigan wrote: |
Are there any private insurers you can recommend? Websites that you know of that you could pass along?
I've done a bit of searching and I haven't been able to find much else besides GlobalHealth. Strange that they'd be the only ones. |
I was thinking of Global Health as well. Nova had their own company back in the day. JMA or something like that. I was on that before hopping on Shakai Hoken. Now I am in the US and want my money back. |
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