Health insurance

[RetireJapan]

I wasn't aware of the monthly cap, that's very interesting and significantly lowers the worst-case scenario. In your article on GaijinPot though, you mention you need to apply beforehand... can you still be eligible if you don't/can't apply beforehand?

If you can do it in advance, the hospital only bills you the amount of the cap. If not, they bill you the full amount and you get a refund from kenkou hoken (either city hall for kokumin or through employer for shakai hoken).

[mighty58]

Yeah, a not-at-all-bad worst case scenario. Which begs the question, why is medical insurance so popular? As a nation of savers, Japanese people would seem to be much more suited to being self-insured. Is it just the risk-adverse nature of people here, or are we missing something big?

[RetireJapan]

Yeah, a not-at-all-bad worst case scenario. Which begs the question, why is medical insurance so popular? As a nation of savers, Japanese people would seem to be much more suited to being self-insured. Is it just the risk-adverse nature of people here, or are we missing something big?

Medical insurance seems to cover income replacement, sundries, and possibly cost of private rooms (the per diem for hospital stays or visits), and lump sum payments for surgeries/injuries/certain diseases.

The insurance companies also make a big deal out of paying for 'advanced' treatments that are not covered by NHI. I suspect this is a very unlikely outcome and marketing designed to take advantage of uninformed consumers.

Personally speaking, I have found medical insurance to be borderline worth having due to the number of injuries/surgeries I have had in the last few years, but not at all necessary due to the coverage/monthly cap on NHI.

[Wales4rugbyWC23]

I really think Japan has got the right balance right in what they expect individuals to pay and what burden is taken up by the state through the national insurance premiums. National health insurance premiums and anything over 100,000 yen in medical expenses are tax deductible (the only time I have claimed this is with my son's braces) When I leave a doctor's clinic or a hospital I rarely feel out of pocket and feel glad on the level and promptness of service I have received.

You go from two extremes from the USA where one of the leading reasons for bankruptcy is medical fees to the UK where things are free but the waiting lists are extremely long and it is the people with the widest elbows or deepest pockets who get to be seen and treated first.