Hello Community Members, This week's topic is Japanese hospitals and the national health insurance system. Thinking of traveling to Japan? Wondering what to do if you get sick? Where to go? Well, read on ...
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Here's a signboard near my workplace; all the billboards point to different private clinics.
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| 眼科 | ganka | ophthalmology |
| 胃腸科 | ichouka | gastroenterology (stomach and intestinal diseases) |
| 内科 | naika | internal medicine |
| 産婦人科 | sanfujinka | gynecology and obstetrics |
| 脳神経外科 | noushinkei geka | neurology |
So, let's say you've picked the specialist most suited for your ailment. Then what?
The first thing to do when you enter is to go to reception and fill out a new patient form. The forms are usually in Japanese and have some really complicated Kanji.
In all my years in Japan, I have never managed to complete one of these forms without the
receptionist's help. In a larger, busy clinic, this can be stressful for both parties, but in a smaller
clinic, it's a great opportunity to flirt with the lovely lady who was hired mainly for her smile.
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As with everything else, medical and hospital services are very expensive in Japan. Before treating a foreigner, medical caregivers often insist upon payment in full at the time of treatment or concrete proof of ability to pay. So before your next visit, make sure your health insurance policy covers trips to Japan. National health insurance is compulsory in Japan for nationals and residents. Visiting foreigners without insurance are usually ignored by the system—and you usually get charged the full price of the service. On my first trip to Japan, I skimped on health and travel insurance, and then when I got a cold I ended up shelling out 60 bucks for some cold medicines that didn't work! (Still, it was cheaper than the health and travel insurance, so I felt I'd gotten a bargain). Had I had participated in the Japanese National Health Insurance system, I would have been responsible for just 30% of my health-care costs; the remaining 70% is paid for by the government. The patient's copay, so to speak, varies depending on age:
Meals served during hospitalization are calculated separately, and you may have to pay an additional charge depending on the kind and quantity of medication prescribed. What's more, medicine is probably not quite as strong as the medicine you take at home. The insurance system's eligibility rules are pretty simple: You are eligible if you are registered as a foreign resident and have a valid visa to stay in Japan for at least a year. If you have a shorter-term visa, you may still be eligible, depending on your purpose of entry. |
Ahhh, getting sick is a pain (no pun intended) no matter how you look at it. A little understanding of the system and upfront preparation go a long way toward a speedy recovery.
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