Job Discussion Forums

[Big John Stud]

Japan National Health Insurance has recently re-adjusted my premiums to an extremely expensive price.

I have a good set up and I am paid more than the average English teacher, yet, I can't understand how anyone can afford to have Japanese national health insurance. Everyone who works is required by law to have health insurance yet the premium is a scam. A plain scam!
I am healthy and never go to the doctors so why do I have to give away so much hard earned money? Even if I did go to a doctor, how much the health insurance charges me a year, I could easily pay the best doctor for treatment. Health insurance in Japan is a scam so the government can make money without working!

Anyway does anyone have any recommendation for a cheaper health insurance? I heard the problem with Global is that you pay all the fees and they reimburse you later.

[Brooks]

sounds like people are just paying for the growing elderly population to get treatment. 20% of the population is 65 or older.
Population is going to go down, as is the working population.
The future looks kind of grim.

[Glenski]

Sigh.

Japanese national health insurance is of two varieties.

shakai kenko hoken for people whose company makes copayments.

kokumin kenko hoken for people who work independently and make all of the payments themselves.

The distinction is important to this poll, in my opinion.

[Sweetsee]

Does 40,000 a month sound like a lot to you all?

[SEndrigo]

40,000 a month doesn't sound like a lot....it sounds utterly ludicrous and incomprehensible.

I got private insurance....which is much cheaper fortunately !

[Sweetsee]

That may be, but you would be surprised to learn how many folks pony up that kind of lettuce every month, and try getting a loan without it.

[Big John Stud]

Brooks wrote:

sounds like people are just paying for the growing elderly population to get treatment. 20% of the population is 65 or older. Population is going to go down, as is the working population. The future looks kind of grim.

I agree 100%. The irony is that the only time, I used the health insurance to get treatment for a shoulder injury, the place was crowded with old people. And even though, I got there before most of them, I was treated after them.

[Zzonkmiles]

You might want to amend this poll to include NOVA's JMA, as I'm sure there are many posters here who still use that.

I have the standard Japanese National Health Insurance. My premiums are higher each month than they were with NOVA and JMA, but at least I can get this money back (if I'm not mistaken) since I'll be paying into it for less than 3 years. (Or is that only the pension money that you can get back?)

[Big John Stud]

Zzonkmiles wrote:

You might want to amend this poll to include NOVA's JMA, as I'm sure there are many posters here who still use that. I have the standard Japanese National Health Insurance. My premiums are higher each month than they were with NOVA and JMA, but at least I can get this money back (if I'm not mistaken) since I'll be paying into it for less than 3 years. (Or is that only the pension money that you can get back?)

It is only the pension money you get back. This money is going to be used to treat all the old retired people!

[Glenski]

Big John Stud,
Maybe they all made reservations.

[Big John Stud]

Glenski wrote:

Big John Stud, Maybe they all made reservations.

At this clinic, the procedure is first come first serve. No reservation! I think those people are regular and speak the language. But I must admit the doctors and physical therapist were kind.

[yamanote senbei]

The funny thing about JMA is that if your on it, you are also legally required to be on one of the other legal Japanese systems. NOVA isn't actually saving anyone any money with JMA other than NOVA itself.