Job Discussion Forums

[Vince]

[Topo Gigo]

Kokumin Kenko Hoken, from what i can gather is the National Health insurance for self/un-employed or part timers.
What I've been told is it's based on your previous years earnings so for your first year, your previous earnings are 0, so your premiums should be Y4-5000 (~�20) per month, so long as you don't pay for the pension too. I'm not entirely sure what the law is exactly, some people have said they asked not to pay for the pension and that was fine, others have said they were made to pay it - I don't know how much extra that would be.

I'm only plannnig on staying for a year, so I think this is what I'll do (depending on how the pension bit works out), but if you plan to stay in Japan more than a year, the premiums will go up, possibly triple or more.
Also, I've herad that once you enter the social insurance scheme, it is almost impossible to get out of it unless you leave the country.

Unlike JMA, you don't have to fork out for the whole thing upfront and wait to be reimbursed, but it only covers 70% of your costs, you pay the other 30%.

Obviously, being in the same position as you (not got to Japan yet), I don't know all this from personal experience - it's just what I've picked up from this and other web sites.

I think I'm going to get private travel insurance to cover my first week or 2 before I can sign up for the Kokumin Hoken, then if once I get there, people advise against it, I may just go with the JMA after all.

Vince - do you think it's reallly necessary to get additional coverage eg with Banners for all those other things you mentioned - I'd been wondering about that.

Bloomin eck. Praise the NHS! it has it's problems but at least you don't have to worry about all this insurance cr@p! Us poor Brits aint used to this!

[Glenski]

[Vince]

[JPrufrock]

I have received a letter of Appointment and Agreement from Nova in which I am urged to sign up for JMA. My question is, can I request the national health system instead (shakai hokken- I know I am mangling spelling)?
Secondly, can Nova revoke their offer of appointment to me for doing so?
I would call Nova and ask, but it's a catch 22. In finding out the answer, I can possibly create problems for myself in getting the final job offer and contract. So, I ask here.

[bearcat]

You cannot be forced into JMA and they may not offer you the shakkai hoken if your not on a 40+ hours schedule. Additionally, I don't see why you can immediately quit JMA in writing to them and Nova upon getting the job etc.

Now if you cannot get shakkai hokken, you can still take the basic Japanese health insurance, your first year will be pretty low cost per month as the basic fee for it is based on your previous year's taxable income in Japan. With no record of a previous year's income, you're placed in the low income payment bracket, which should in most parts of Japan amount to 4000 yen a month give or take. As an FYI, this insurance is not just medical but dental, etc as well.

[GIR]

Hi folks, I'm in a similar situation here. I've been accepted into the Nova program, teaching at the Multimedia Center in Osaka starting in September.

After looking over the information here, I've more or less decided to pass on the JMA deal and go for the National Healthcare. Can anybody advise me on how to do this? Do I need to request information from Nova, or do it once I get to Japan? I haven't sent in my final paperwork yet, but intend to do so very soon. Also, I am currently employed here in the states, and I'm fairly certain I can extend my healthcare coverage from this position for a month or so after my employment with them has finished. So I shouldn't be needing any sort of transitional coverage.

Thanks for any help.