Job Discussion Forums

[jamo22]

Hello, i recently arrived to teach in japan, and have fallen slightly sick. not enough to not be able work, but let's just call it a slight discomfort that i would like to get sorted out asap.

I already visited the doctor, and he gave me medication for two weeks. it was pretty costly, around 200 u.s, and the discomfort hasnt gone away so far.

My question is: i will only apply for an arc early next week, and presuming it takes a a few weeks...my employers wont be paying for my health insurance, so i will have to pay in for that. Do you receive the health insurance card/paper with the arc, or do you have to apply for that separately? will i get some discount on health care and medication if i only have the arc?

as i said its not excruciating pain, so i can hold off on getting it looked at again, but im just wondering how long i will have to wait to be able to get cheaper health care, and whether i just just spend the money myself.

I know i should speak to my employer about it...but having just arrived i wanna keep hassles and problems down to a minimum.

thanks

[Glenski]

If your employer is shirking his legal responsibility to pay half of your health insurance (called shakai hoken, which also includes pension premiums), then you are going to have to apply for the other type of health insurance called kokumin kenko hoken. It is done separately from applying for your alien card although it will be in the same place (likely, though, at a different department in the office).

How long have you been here working without insurance?
What is the reason your employer gives for not paying for his half of shakai hoken? If he has 5 or more employees, and you work more than 29.5 hours per week, he is obligated to do so. Even if you work less than that, he can still offer to do it. Don't think how much of a "hassle" it is to ask your employer for something he should give you by law.

Kokumin kenko hoken will cost you about 2000-2500 yen/month the first year and ten times that the following years. Shakai hoken will cost you the latter amount from the beginning, but it also includes pension. If you want to put into a pension fun (technically something you are also obligated to do by law, but which lots of foreigners don't do), you will have to sign up for it separately at the ward office where you get your alien card. It's called kokumin nenkin. You can get back the majority of your payments but only for the previous 3 years.

[jamo22]

thanks for the uselful info glenski.

No my employer will not pay for half of my medical insurance, as I work under 29 hrs a week. So I will opt in for the other option. How long does it take to receive that insurance once you have applied for it? would I get any sort of discount on medical with just having an alien card?

thanks

[Inflames]

[Glenski]