Insurance through the Workplace

By law, you are eligible for company-provided insurance if you are a full- or part-time worker (a minimum of three-quarters of the time per week of a full-time worker) at a company that is a member of the Health Insurance Society. Companies with more than twelve full-time employees are legally obligated to be members of the Society, but economic conditions have led some small firms to quietly opt out. The coverage is the same as for National Health Insurance (see above). When you join, the application procedure will most likely be taken care of by the relevant personnel in your company. Premiums are based on salary (including bonuses) and are deducted from your monthly paycheck. The costs are shared roughly equally between employees and company, with approximately 15 percent of an employee`s paycheck deducted each month for social insurance charges, which includes health insurance as well as unemployment, pension, and nursing insurance. Unlike NHI, your premiums won`t change if you add another member to your family or change residence.

Japanese Private Health Insurance

It has been the goal of Japan`s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to offer equal access to medical treatments to all people residing in Japan regardless of their economic situation. However, aging demographics and a slack economy are increasingly forcing the government to ration care. This is especially true for expensive high-tech medications and treatments, giving rise to an increase in people buying supplemental health coverage. Some treatment methods may not be available in Japan, so the insurance can be used to seek care in other countries. This point remains a highly contentious one for socially minded politicians and bureaucrats, but this trend is expected to continue.

A number of companies offer private health insurance policies that supplement the national or company plans. Coverage for cancer treatment, high-tech or advanced procedures, home-nursing and death expenses is layered on top of the public health insurance, and covers costs ordinarily borne by the patient. It is usually offered as an option with life insurance. However, some of these companies do not accept foreigners, while others may attach conditions related to length of stay in Japan or visa status. See the Resources section for a list of private insurance providers.

Foreign-Based Private Insurance and Travel Insurance

As already mentioned, Japanese public health plans do not cover medical treatments in other countries, so it`s best to take out a separate travel insurance plan before you jet off to exotic locales. Most travel agencies offer travel insurance and the international airports have counters where this can be purchased.

Foreign-based private health insurance can provide coverage overseas and options beyond those offered by the national insurance system: specialist treatment may be included, along with the 30 percent deductible that you would otherwise pay. Do your homework. Check in your home country for insurance plans offered, or try some of the companies listed in the Resources section. When using private insurance, you will be expected to pay the cash upfront and then be reimbursed later; however, some Japanese facilities will not accept anything other than the national or company insurance.

International insurers can also provide a global healthcare package that would cover you for all procedures in and out of Japan. In cases where a particular treatment was not available in Japan (or whatever country you may be in), the insurer will make arrangements to evacuate you to a country where appropriate care is available. Of course these types of policies can be very expensive.