Coverage & Payment (支払い shiharai)

• Every JET is enrolled in the Japanese National Health Insurance system (NHI).

• You will get a pink or blue NHI card.

• Carry your NHI card everywhere you go, since you will need it whenever you need medical treatment.​

• Insurance coverage may be initially refused if you are not carrying your insurance card.

• If you forgot you NHI card, see "Receipts" below to still get reimbursement by the NHI.

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⚠ The National Health Insurance usually covers “illnesses and injuries”. Health check-ups, routine dental cleanings, birth control, maternal care, etc. are often not covered (for more details about insurance coverage, please consult the Sexual Health and Finding a Doctor sections).

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• Under the NHI, 70% of most hospital and clinic visit costs are covered.

• You will only need to pay for the remaining 30% of the total cost.

• When you go to a hospital or clinic, keep the receipt as you may be able to claim this money back from the JET Accident Insurance (see below).

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• The NHI also covers a portion of treatment given abroad ONLY if treatment abroad is unavoidable.

• Also, the amount paid for by the NHI 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." (Shiga AJET official website)

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Paying in Installments

• Paying in Installments: 分割払い bunkatsu barai

• It is possible for more expensive treatments, surgeries, etc., but it is extremely unusual for medical bills to exceed beyond ~¥30,000 – ¥50,000.

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Receipts

• Receipt: レシート reshiito or 領収書 ryōshūsho

• Keep all receipts, including taxis to the hospital.

• If you visit a hospital or clinic without your Health Insurance Card, you can still get reimbursement from NHI by returning to the medical institution with the receipt of the visit and their Health Insurance Card to collect a refund from having fully paid for the expenses.

• However, it will take a few months to process the reimbursement.

• Also, if a JET plans on filing a claim for additional coverage later, the receipts will be necessary for the claim.​

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Your Insurance Office

• You can call your local insurance office if you have detailed questions about your insurance.

• Your insurance office is written on the bottom right side of your insurance card.

• You can have a nearby Japanese speaker (JTE, supervisor, PA) contact the office and help you fill out the forms.​​​

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When leaving JET

• Your Social Health Insurance coverage ends on the last day of your contract.

• Your medical card must be returned to your CO on completion of your contract.

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the Person Insured

• The JET is the person insured and covered in case of illness or injury, death or birth.

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Benefits for the JET

• Medical consultation

• Supply of medicines and other therapeutic materials

• Medical treatment, operations and other therapeutical care

• Hospitalization

• Nursing

• Transportation

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Dependents

(ie. the JET's spouse and children)

• "Dependents" includes: lineal ascendants, spouse (including unregistered marriages), children, grandchildren and younger siblings and relatives to the third degree of the insured mainly supported by the insured and living under the same household.

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Dependent's Eligibility

• Their income is less than 1,300,000 yen per year (1,800,000 if they are handicapped or over 60 years of age).

• Their income is less than half of yours.

• If it 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.​

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Benefits for Dependents

• Dependents are granted almost all the same benefits as the insured person, but they must pay 20% of the cost of hospitalization and 30% of out-patient care.

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References: http://jetprogramme.org/en/gih/, https://shigajets.weebly.com/health-insurance.html, https://tokyojet.wikia.org/wiki/Insurance

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