Job Discussion Forums

[Conor_Ire]

I recently applied for a WHV for japan and had some issues because i only had 3 months travel insurance. I want to stay for 12 months but the nice lady said i may only recieve a 3 month working holiday visa because of my insurance. I have to wait 7 days to get my visa and i'm possitively screwed if it's only for 3 months. Has anyone ever heard of a 3 month WHV? I don't see why it should be compulsary that i pay for a years worth of travel insurance, but maybe i will have to bow down to alot of these kind of requirements in the near future when i arrive in Japan.

[seklarwia]

But what happens if you get sick, have an accident, need repatriation or even get into a spot of bother with the police? There is no free (Yes some people pay taxes towards these but not all) healthcare or legal representation like here and since you may not have the funds to cover these costs, you' be in quite the pickle if you didn't have insurance.

I didn't know that the WHV could be issued for less than 12 months but they'd be pretty irresponsible to let you run around Japan for such a long time with no form of cover.

[Conor_Ire]

Yeah i see your point ,but i've done a fair bit of travelling and never had or needed travel insurance. I'm 25 years old and in perfect health , if i get sick here at home i still have to pay for it. I've never had any bother with the police either. All in all i'm a safe bet and guaranteed profit for the insurance company. If something unlucky did happen i have a credit card for an emergency and if i really had to i could contact my family for help. Anyway i'm thinkng about calling the embassy tommorow and just giving into their demands, but i really feel it should be my personal choice.The responsiblity is mine after all and i'd rather keep my money as i trust myself not to get into a mess.


Damn the system!!

[seklarwia]

You maybe the healthiest person on Earth, but that doesn't mean you won't get hit by a car crossing the road or that some drunken idiot won't pick a fight with you in the middle of the street or that you won't get falsely accused of being a groper on the train.

There are so many factors that are completely out of your control that it really is better to be safe and not sorry.

Yes you could probably fit most inpatient hospital treatment or immediate legal rep costs on a credit card, but repatriation will go in to the 10s of thousands of pounds which unless you family is loaded, could be quite problematic.

Just go on price comparison websites and get the cheapest insurance avaliable. Sure the excess maybe quite high, but at least you'll have the insurance they require you to have and should the worst happen, you'll only be paying the first couple of hundred.

I know how you feel with the insurance, but they require that everyone living there have insurance, which is not a rule applied to foreigners but to the natives as well. You are travelling to their country, so you need to respect their rules.

[Apsara]

There is a scarily high rate of pedestrian or cyclist vs. car accidents in Japan, and I know quite a number of foreigners who have had accidents here- injuries included a broken cheekbone for an American guy, a broken jaw and nose for a British guy, serious head injury for a Canadian guy and two broken arms for a British girl. Without insurance all of them would have had a hard time. Oh, and in Japan if you are at fault in a bicycle accident for example, you are often expected to pay compensation in cash to the injured party, which can be quite expensive.

Not having health insurance in a country like Japan where medical costs are high is a bit foolhardy and technically illegal. However, even on a WHV there is the option to go on National Health when you get here, which is about �2,500 a month for your first year in Japan, so you would almost be crazy not to.

WHVs are typically given for 6 months to start with, not 12, but are renewable for another 6 if you are British. Maybe the lady was just messing with you, but she had a point. I have actually never needed my health insurance for anything either, but there's no way I can say I won't need it 5 minutes after I've stepped out of the door today- thinking you aren't ever going to need it is just unrealistic.

[Thogin]

I say do not pay, your just paying for a piece of mind for the most part.

I hate people that sell on people's fears of getting hurt. what if that what if this, insurance is just another way to control things... and people feel happy when their in control.

[seklarwia]

[Glenski]

[Conor_Ire]

My primary concern is getting a job in japan, i have insurance for 3 months to cover me while i seek work. If i had 12 months insurance and had to go home after 3 months because i can't get a job, what good is it then? I know everyone has to do it really but i'm a bit of stubborn fella at times. Anyway i know i'm in the wrong now but i still hate the idea of it all!

[Apsara]

That's a very good point, and I'm still surprised that the lady actually said that to you. Swear black and blue that you will go on National Health as soon as your current insurance runs out (as I mentioned above, it's dirt cheap for your first year in Japan), and I don't see how they can't accept that.

I still think she was just having you on- the minimum WHV has always been 6 months as far as I know.

[G Cthulhu]

[Conor_Ire]

Yes , yes , i know , i know , i'm wrong! But anyhow , Aspara , you were right. The lady was having me on , i've been issued a 12 month visa.

I'll look into that national health cover for sure as i've come to expect having my limbs smashed the second my insurance runs out.




P.S ''An apple a day keeps the doctor away!''

Maybe i am invincible like bruce willis in that movie! What was the name of that movie again???