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Medical practices are a little different to those in the west. For example, it is not uncommon to have your teeth drilled in a room full of waiting people. Plastic gloves are also rarely worn. If you feel uncomfortable with anything simply tell the doctor and he/she will usually oblige with a pair of gloves etc. This is the advantage of locating an English speaking Doctor. MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION The Social Health Insurance Card (Kenkou Hokenshou) - Soon after arriving at your Host Institution you should be given your Social Health Insurance card, try to keep this with you at all times. It is a card folded into three pages in a plastic wallet with your name on the front in katakana. Its colour may change from year to year. The cost of the Social Health Insurance is borne jointly between the JET and the Host Institution, each paying around 38,000 yen a month. Some JETs will have their Social Health Insurance deducted at source before they receive their pay packets. Others, especially those who get paid in cash, will have to hand over that sum to either their supervisor or another designated person in their office. If your SHI is not deducted automatically, you must ensure that your contribution is paid by the end of each month, or you may find yourself without cover. As a holder of a Social Health Insurance card, you are only required to pay 20% of your medical expenses and prescription costs. Your dependents may also be covered but must pay a little more (up to 30%). The SHI will cover at government approved facilities:
Non-essential treatment may not be covered by the Social Health Insurance. Many alternative health care centers will still accept the Social Health Insurance such as massage parlors and acupuncturists so it is worth asking around to see what you can get. YASUDA FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE In the JET Programme, you are covered for additional accident insurance through the Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance Company. This is paid for entirely by your Host Institutions. This covers, if necessary, the costs not borne by our Social Health Insurance, as well as emergency medical care for illnesses and certain injuries incurred whilst travelling abroad. Dependents are not included in this policy. To apply for a reimbursement you will need the following:
Send all of these to Yasuda Fire and Marine. More details can be found in the leaflet that accompanies your coverage, which you should receive in August or September. HOSPITALS Although it is advisable to be registered at your nearest hospital for emergencies and everyday illnesses like colds and flues, you may find that you want or need to go to another hospital. The reasons for this may be various and manifold: your hospital in the rice fields may not have the right specialist department, you may require greater privacy, or you may simply not like the place itself. Your Social Health Insurance card is pretty much accepted everywhere. Like anywhere else in the world, there are good and bad hospitals, and you should ask your teachers or supervisor to recommend one, especially if you should need prolonged treatment. As a rough guide, the perceived wisdom is that the better hospitals are in the larger towns or cities. Hospitals with specialist departments are often concentrated in these areas, too. AFTER HOURS HOSPITALS & CLINICS Most hospitals in Japan do not offer 24 hour medical care, so you should find out from your teachers, colleagues, or friends where the nearest emergency hospital is to you. Should you attend a hospital outside of its normal operating hours, or on a holiday you may not be able to use your SHI insurance to subsidise your visit. You may have to pay up to and beyond 100% of the costs of your treatment since during these times the clerical workers who deal with calculating insurance aren't at work. If you have to pay the full cost of your treatment, you will normally receive a receipt that you can bring to the hospital during normal working hours to receive any money you have paid above the 20% contribution you usually make. If the hospital doesn't operate on this system, then you can claim the entire costs from Yasuda Fire and Marine (see below). PROCEDURES Basic procedures at medical centers in Japan are as follows:
A service called AMDA: (International Medical Information Centre) will help you find an English speaking doctor in your area, give you contact details, visiting hours and directions to their practice. The service is free to use, anonymous and available in a variety of languages. Call the centre nearest to you and they will refer you nationwide.
Additionally, many embassies maintain lists of healthcare providers. Although many doctors and dentists are bilingual, most of their receptionists are not, so be prepared for some general hesitation in answering your call. General hospitals are more conveniently located and better equipped, but you will have a longer wait than if you go to a clinic.
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