If you intend to stay in Japan for less than a year, you need to take a private health insurance. If you hold a work holiday visa, a private insurance is compulsory to cover your healthcare expenses. However, you must enrol in a Japanese insurance programme if you are a permanent resident or if you hold a work visa in the country.
If you need a private heath insurance in Japan, ask for a free quote now!
There are two main insurance programmes in Japan:
For salaried people, workers and their families, a compulsory insurance programme including medical insurance and healthcare for elderly people has been set up covering the worker up to 80% of his-her healthcare expenses, and covering his-her family up to 70%.
The other insurance programme is the national protection scheme. The national protection scheme is compulsory and covers Japanese residents other than salaried people and workers. People under the national protection system are covered up to 70% of their healthcare expenses, 80 to 90% for people aged 74 or more (upon resources) and 80% for children under 3 of age.
In order to register with the national protection scheme, please visit your local city hall office and bring your Alien card with you, as well as a proof of residence in Japan clearly stating that your stay in the country will exceed 1 year (your work visa for instance). A national social security card will then be delivered, which is requested in public hospitals for consultation, examination, treatment etc.
Useful link:
Social Insurance Agency – Japan
http://www.sia.go.jp/e/index.html
Emergency numbers in Japan:
Ambulance: 119
Fire brigade: 119
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