Job Discussion Forums

[Ryu Hayabusa]

Hello!

Here the situation: I've been living in Japan for almost a year now. I'm going back to Canada (Ontario, in particular) for 28 days this August and I want temporary health insurance. I made sure to cancel my Ontario Health Insurance before I left because I wanted to sever as many ties to Canada for tax purposes. I want temporary medical coverage. Normally I wouldn't bother, but 28 days is a long time and since I have asthma and swine flu is still around, I don't want to take any chances. I'm also going to Dallas, Texas for 4 days in the middle of August. Can anyone steer me in the right direction with some website or phone numbers that I can call for advice/assistance?

I apologize if this has been covered before, but my searches here on Dave's yielded no results. Thanks in advance.

[iverin]

I'm not sure what to do for the OHIP but I think for the 4 days to Texas you can go to places like the CAA and buy travel insurance. When I went to Japan I bought travel insurance from the CAA for the 3 days before my job health insurance kicked in.

[cvmurrieta]

[Ryu Hayabusa]

Thanks for the replies and the private message!

[Glenski]

Your national health insurance will cover you even if you are outside Japan. You'll have to pay all costs first, then show the receipts when you return. Then, you'll get reimbursed for the same 70% as if it had been taken care of here (providing the treatments are in the allowable category that would have been done in Japan).

[Hot-Carl]

If you don't feel like paying all costs in the hospital, you can very easily buy travel insurance within Japan. In fact, there are usually a number of kiosks set up in international airports here for just that purpose. Narita airport has these located right in front of the ticket counters. I'm sure they're easy to find in Kansai airport as well, or in whichever airport you'd be using.

[Ryu Hayabusa]

I received a link from Glenski and checked it out. It implicitly states that NHI covers a person overseas. Here's some of what Glenski wrote:
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As for your recent question, though, here is what the Osaka office has to say about getting money from medical payments abroad:

Quote:
⑤Obtaining Refund on Medical Expenses
If you receive medical treatment when you are not carrying your insurance card, you will be required to pay the entire amount of the bill (including the cases where you receive treatment while abroad) , however, you can file for a refund. If you are covered by National Health Insurance, you can file a claim at the Insurance Section(Hoken Tanto)of your ward office. If you are covered by Health Insurance, you can file a claim at the Social Insurance Office or Health Insurance Societies. You will be required to submit the reciept and documents detailing the medical treatment recieved and the corresponding expenses. Following a satisfactory investigation of your claim, you will be refunded the amount that your insurance would normally have covered.

http://www.ih-osaka.or.jp/enjoy/en/sick/02.html

http://www.kokuho.or.jp/english/index.htm
If the Entire Medical Expense Is Personally Borne for the Time Being
In the following cases, you can be reimbursed for medical expenses that are personally borne for the time being by filing an application with NHI after receiving medical treatment. (See blue box, last item. It says "If medical treatment is received overseas".) Can't get much more official than that site!
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I was at my ward office today to take care of some visa stuff and I asked the Health Insurance people about overseas coverage and they confirmed it as well.

Problem solved. No need for travel insurance for me!

Thanks again, Glenski and everyone who replied!

[Inflames]