So back home, you most probably had some kind of health insurance, but now you are in Japan, you need to know what kind of Health insurance you need to get. Or do you even need one?
In Japan, all legal residents, meaning citizens and visa holders are legally required to have Health Insurance.
Disclaimer: I do not represent any insurance firm or ward office. This is general information, so if you think you might need more professional advice or are a special case, please do call your local ward/city office or insurance company.
Social/Employee Health Insurance
(健康保険 Kenko Hoken)
Company employees usually get their Health Insurance coverage via their company; meaning that there is no need to run down to any governmental office… the company will take care of the paperwork. You will most likely receive your card from your company.
National Health Insurance
(国民健康保険 Kokumin Kenko Hoken)
If you are not a full time employee, you will need to go down to your local ward office to apply for the National Health insurance. The staff will direct you to the right counter and let you know if you need to fill out any forms. The NHI card will then be posted to you.
What about the costs?
Well, they are usually based on your previous year’s income, so if you are new to Japan, your health insurance premiums will be very low. Expect a bit of a jump the next year and plan accordingly.
See related post: How to afford living in Japan
One big difference between the two types of insurance is how much they cost and how they are paid.
Social/Employee Health Insurance
The company will pay a percentage and the rest will come out of your paycheck.
National Health Insurance
You are responsible for 100% of the payments, and will need to be on top of your payments.
What the Health Insurance covers
Basically, for most medical consultations and medication, people pay 30% of the total bill. The government covers the other 70%.
Please don’t go get all your tooth fillings replaced yet though! Both Health insurance types cover the basics, but not everything! Do your homework to avoid huge shocks later!
Are there other types of Health related Insurance plans?
Yes, ones that cover accidents, cancer, and a lot more. Those are not mandatory so do shop around if you decide to get them.
Photo credit Image by Darko Stojanovic from Pixabay