About our Health Insurance

From HyogoAJET

Contents 1 National Insurance 1.1 Your Insurance Office 1.2 Dependents 2 Sompo Japan Insurance

[edit] National Insurance

We are all enrolled in the national health insurance system of Japan. You will soon receive a salmon-colored card like the one on the right. If ever you need treatment, take it with you, and you will only have to pay 30% of the bill - check beforehand that the hospital in question accepts the insurance, because not everywhere does. Find a Doctor can be a good source to find out this information.

The national health insurance also covers a portion of treatment given abroad, HOWEVER, you may make a claim ONLY if treatment abroad is unavoidable. Also, the amount paid for by the national health insurance is (technically) calculated as 70% of what the same treatment would cost in Japan. The Japanese government employs some ridiculous way of calculating this, however, and the actual amount usually winds up being only 30-40% of expenses.

[edit] Your Insurance Office

The best way to handle detailed questions about your insurance is to call your local insurance office. Your insurance office is written on the bottom right side of your insurance card (on the example card it is the Sannomiya Social Insurance Office, 三宮社会保険事務所). If you don't feel that you'll be able to communicate properly in Japanese, you can have a nearby Japanese speaker (JTE, supervisor) contact the office and help you fill out the forms.

A list of the contact information for the insurance offices in Hyogo is here.

[edit] Dependents

If you have a spouse or child that is "largely living dependent on your salary," they are eligible to be covered under your insurance. A person is considered your dependent if:

1. His/her income is less than 1,300,000 yen per year (1,800,000 if he/she is handicapped or over 60 years of age).
2. His/her income is less than half of yours.

If your dependent's income is more than half of yours, but still under 1,300,000 yen and less than your income, the insurance office will make a decision based on your individual situation.

[edit] Sompo Japan Insurance

As JETs we are also covered by Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. Sompo covers us for trips we make abroad (covers expenses for the medical treatment of illness or injury sustained in an accident that occurred during the period of coverage). You should have received a blue book in Tokyo entitled "JET Programme Accident Insurance Policy Guide" that explains this insurance. Make sure you hold on to this book.

Sompo's insurance also covers the 30% deductible that we have to pay when we use our national health insurance card. However, dental and certain other types of medical treatment are not covered by the Sompo insurance. Also, it does not cover spouses or anyone other than the insured JET. Please consult the blue book to see what is and is not covered. If you need any assistance while processing a claim call Sompo's English Helpline: 0120-08-1572 or CLAIR's JET Line at 03-3591-5489.

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General	Meet The CIRs ・ Meet The PAs ・ Phone Numbers and Emails ・ Hyogojets Mailing List ・ Emergencies ・ Useful Links ・ AJET ・ Acronyms ・ Information Centers
For New Jets	The Hiring Process ・ Buying From Your Predecessor ・ Japanese Customs ・ Bringing Medicine To Japan ・ Presents For Coworkers ・ Tokyo to Hyogo ・ Alien Registration Card ・ First Few Days ・ Pension Book ・ Settling In At Home ・ Letter of Appointment ・ Personal Seal
Money	How Much Money Should I Bring? ・ Banking in Japan ・ Sending Money Home ・ Paychecks ・ Paying Up Front ・ Taxes Back Home ・ Statement of Earnings ・ Resident Taxes
Work	Who do I work for? ・ Evaluations ・ Paid Leave ・ Special Leave ・ Unpaid Leave ・ Study Leave ・ Recontracting and Transfers ・ Conferences ・ Yashiro Orientation ・ The Mid-Year Conference ・ I have nothing to do!
Life In Hyogo	About the Apartment ・ How safe is Japan? ・ Map of Hyogo ・ Dealing with bugs ・ Shopping in Japan ・ Train Lines, Times, and Fares ・ Hyogo Winters ・ Hyogo Summers ・ Typhoons ・ Sports Opportunities ・ Trains: Vocab and Tips ・ Post Office ・ Useful Items to Help You Live in Japan ・ Religious Institutions
Traveling	Traveling ・ Leaving The Country ・ Buses ・ International Airports ・ Domestic Airports ・ Tourist Spots ・ Travel Agents ・ Ferries ・ Natural Disasters Abroad
Language and Culture	Learning Japanese ・ Language Resources ・ Japanese Classes in Hyogo ・ Proficiency Tests ・ Study Tips ・ Japanese Holidays ・ Japanese Etiquette ・ About the CLAIR Courses
Food	Food Shopping ・ Restaurant Vocab and Guidebooks ・ Types of Restaurants ・ Recommended Restaurants
Health	Bringing Medicine To Japan ・ Japan's Medical System ・ Counseling and Support Groups ・ Vaccinations ・ Find a Doctor ・ Medical Examinantions ・ About our Health Insurance ・ AJET Peer Support Group ・ Dentists ・ Insurance and Dental Work
Books, etc.	Book Stores ・ Hyogo AJET Library ・ Libraries ・ Magazines ・ Newspapers etc.
Driving	Attention Drivers! ・ Buying a Car ・ Driving in Winter ・ Getting Around ・ Getting Car Insurance ・ Getting a License ・ Rules of the Road ・ Driving School ・ Driving Test ・ Drinking and Driving ・ DUI / DWI ・ My BOE won't let me drive!
Visas, etc.	Immigration Offices ・ Visa Renewal and Status of Residence ・ Reentry Permits ・ Renewing Your Passport ・ Post-JET Visa Advice ・ Temporary Visitor Visa
Recommendations	Gym Recommendations ・ Recommended Restaurants ・ Find a Doctor ・ Find a Hairdresser
Legal Issues	Lost Passports ・ Arrested in Japan ・ English Speaking Lawyers
Computers and Phones	Buying a computer ・ Typing in Japanese ・ Getting Internet ・ Word in Japanese ・ Cell Phones ・ Home Phones ・ Phoning Home ・ Help with Technical Problems
Leaving JET	Checklist for Leaving Japan ・ Post-JET Visa Advice ・ Return Tickets ・ Shipping Stuff Home ・ The Pension Refund ・ Staying In Japan ・ Preparing For Your Successor ・ Predecessor Information ・ Reverse Culture Shock ・ Police Clearance Certificate ・ Certificate of Participation ・ I want to break contract ・ Goodwill Envoys