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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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 Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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People (including myself) on these forums will call NHI either of the two major forms:
shakai hoken, which includes the pension plan and which the employer pays half
kokumin kenko hoken, which does non include pension (you apply separately), and which your employer does not pay half.
NOVA used to force employees to join its JMA insurance plan. It was a NOVA plan, so NOVA got your money coming and going. Sounds like Interac is doing something similar?
Beware and be aware that if you have something other than either NHI, and then switch to the NHI plan, you will have to make backpayments on NHI up to 2 years' worth, even if you had a valid insurance plan during that time. |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:03 pm Post subject: Re: Interac: National Health Insurance vs Inter Global |
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| gwynnie86 wrote: |
Ok, so I was sure that there was already a thread dealing with this, but I failed to find it.
Today, Interac send me a lovely email including this:
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Insurance:
We will be sending out a link to download that will explain details related to obtaining health insurance while residing in Japan.
Health insurance is compulsory for anyone working in Japan. There are basically two choices for Interac ALTs, National Health Insurance or Inter Global coverage.
National Health Insurance:
National Health Insurance in Japan covers 70% of your medical bills and you are required to make up the other 30% when you visit the hospital.
It is reasonably cheap for the first year in Japan but when your income is calculated at the end of the tax year then the premium increases to around 4% of your salary.
The Japanese Government has a policy in that if you are intending to stay in Japan for more than one year then you are obliged to join National Health Insurance.
If you are planning on living in Japan �long-term� then you should enroll in National Health Insurance as you will have to at some point anyway. The reason is that when you go to renew your visa after your first year you will be asked to show proof of National Health coverage to support your application.
If you are planning to stay in Japan for less than one year, then you can enroll in Inter Global.
If you know that you will be staying longer than one year then you are required to join the National Health scheme.
If you are unsure then you can join either Inter Global or the National Health Scheme for your first year in Japan. If you then decide to stay for a second year you are obliged, at that point, to join the National Health scheme.
Inter Global:
Inter Global is only a viable option for teachers planning on staying in Japan for less than one year, for those who are undecided as to how long they wish to stay and also for those wishing to opt for the �top-up plan� that covers the 30% out of pocket expenses incurred with the National Health scheme.
We have negotiated very reasonable corporate rates with Global Health Insurance which is an overseas based health insurance provider with an office in Osaka. Our group rate offers our employees the advantages of the savings of a group plan. Currently, there are three plans available:
GOLD PLAN (JPY 7,300/month)
SILVER PLAN (JPY 6,700/month)
BRONZE PLAN (JPY 5,500/month)
These rates will be explained in greater detail (including coverage and
benefits) in the information link to follow.
Unlike National Health Insurance in Japan, Inter Global premiums will not be recalculated in year two based on your previous years' income. Inter Global�s premiums will remain fixed until December the 3rd 2010, increases in premiums have historically been quite marginal, however we are unable to forecast what they will be next year.
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Now, people are saying that if you go with Inter Global but change over to NHI the next year you have to pay back-payments etc, which is obviously not ideal. However, I am only staying there for a year (or such is my plan) so would Inter Global be a better option? Or NHI just in case I ended up staying longer?
Sorry to bring up this question again, but it seems to pop up within other threads and not actually have an easy-to-find thread of its own (unless I'm not looking back far enough) ! x |
So anyone with half a brain can see that they might as well join National Health- it's cheaper (or at least, not more expensive) in your first year in Japan than the alternative, and mandatory after. Of course, what they are actually doing is trying to get people to decide for themselves to go with the alternative and then just not enroll on National (as a method that isn't entirely legal, but has little chance of backfiring and is cheaper for people who will be in the country for a few years and then leave- what they actually want people to do anyway- keep 'em ignorant and they won't complain), then it isn't the company's problem if/ when the government catches up with them. |
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southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:29 am Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
I believe that rule got dropped a while back. The rule was suppose to come into play, this year. When I renewed, I went armed with the receipt card that my yakusho has sent me only a couple of weeks prior... not even a peep of a question about my insurance status.
None of the people who went to renew more recently (summer arrivals) got asked to prove their insurance status either. |
Yeah, lots of rules go unenforced in Japan, especially when the enforcement itself creates more problems and/or extra work 
The rule about mandatory coverage has been around for a long time, but there was a lot of talk that enforcement would begin this year. But, if Immigration is not yet enforcing it as they said they would, it could either be a case of half-assed review processes at the immigration office or it could be that they've scrapped the plan since the whole alien registration system will be changed in the next couple of years anyway.
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/shimin/koho/lifeguide/en/17national-health.html |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:08 am Post subject: |
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| southofreality wrote: |
Yeah, lots of rules go unenforced in Japan, especially when the enforcement itself creates more problems and/or extra work
The rule about mandatory coverage has been around for a long time, but there was a lot of talk that enforcement would begin this year. But, if Immigration is not yet enforcing it as they said they would, it could either be a case of half-assed review processes at the immigration office or it could be that they've scrapped the plan since the whole alien registration system will be changed in the next couple of years anyway.
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/shimin/koho/lifeguide/en/17national-health.html |
Not unenforced. The idea never came into play and was actually dropped.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100202a1.html
Not sure what relevance your link has though, since I was referring to what you said about insurance being linked to visa renewal.  |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:40 am Post subject: |
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Gwynnie86 wrote
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| Now, people are saying that if you go with Inter Global but change over to NHI the next year you have to pay back-payments etc, which is obviously not ideal. However, I am only staying there for a year (or such is my plan) so would Inter Global be a better option? Or NHI just in case I ended up staying longer? |
I wouldn't even look at the Interglobal plan if I were only staying a year. NHI, either the kokumin kenko hoken or shakai hoken, covers medical and dental to 70%. In one year, unless you have a chronic condition, you are not likely to need doctor's care. Go for the legitimate NHI.
If you are like me, and one year turns into 11, then being on NHI makes more sense. After a long residence in Japan, permanent residence or naturalization applications go much smoother if you've been a good citizen and paid insurance, taxes,etc.
And really, in your first year, NHI payments are negligible.
Good luck in your preparations! |
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southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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I put the link up as a general reference for anybody, not specifically pointed at you.
Thanks for that link to the Japan Times article. I wasn't aware that was the position immigration was officially taking. |
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