Health Care in Japan

The health and the welfare system of Japan are important factors to consider before moving into this fast-growing nation. The general health care in Japan is not only provided free for every Japanese citizen but also for foreigners. Below are some essential and helpful facts and details about the health care in Japan, providing you anything and everything you need to know about the general health issues in Japan.

Japan is an East Asian island country that lies in the east of Korea, China, and Russia. On its north is the Sea of Okhotsk and the East China Sea on the south. Japan’s name means “sun-origin”, which explains why it is called the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan is composed of more than three thousand islands, most of which are mountainous.

General Health Issues of Japan

Japan offers wide varieties of options when you need medical help. Although there are numerous public and private hospitals as well as clinics, there are no ‘family-doctor’ systems. The public health system covers up to 70% of the cost of care and medication for the prescribed drug. Most foreigners have less than better impressions on Japanese medical practitioners. Studying medicine is very much expensive and the rewards it brings are truly rewarding. A lot of Japanese are more focused on their family business so it is normal to see smaller numbers of Japanese doctors. Additionally, medical ethics and bedside manners are not taught in Japan.

Health Insurance in Japan

Japan has one structure of universal health coverage but on how it exactly applies on a person generally depend on different factors: whether you are visiting, working, studying, your age, and some other vital factors. Health insurance is mandated for those who would be staying in Japan for at least a year. Within this requirement, there are two different Japanese health insurance systems and applies also to foreigners in Japan.

Medical insurance is divided into broader categories: the Employees’ Health Insurance and the National Health Insurance that is a community-based system. Membership in any of the scheme is a must. The monthly premiums are calculated differently but are generally based on salaries. Additionally, the coverage for the medical costs varies on the schemes.

The Employees’ Health Insurance are subdivided into different categories but generally applies to people who are working in private schools, in the national and the local government, and medium or large companies. The employers are the ones that provide the health insurance certificates to its employees. The premiums are basically calculated based from the monthly salary of the insured person.

The National Health Insurance in Japan

Anyone staying in Japan for more than a year and is not covered with the Employees’ insurance, you are obliged to apply for the National Health Insurance and also to produce the Alien Registration Card. You are also required to do the same if you will be joining for an employees’ insurance scheme, going back to the country you belong, moving to another town or city, or when you are changing your address or your name.

Health Care in Japan

The Japanese health care system generally provides free screening examinations on some particular diseases, infectious disease control, and prenatal care. This health care system is generally provided both the local and the national local governments. Payments for those personal medical services are offered thru an insurance system called the universal health care. This system provides equality of access, along with fees that are set by a particular government committee.

Although Japan is an industrialized country, it is very notable to see that only very few Japanese practice the medical profession because most of them are focused in the world of technology. In spite of this, Japan still has the best hospitals and clinics, along with the latest equipments in the medical profession.

For foreigners who are planning to stay in Japan, health care is one major factor that should properly be discussed. Perhaps one concern is finding hospitals in Japan that have English-speaking medical staffs. As more and more foreigners are starting to emigrate in Japan, the Japanese government in turn, took its part in providing quality health care for these expatriates. Much to the relief of the emigrants, Japanese hospitals today have a staff of English-speaking medical professionals.

Most of the medical surgeons and specialists in Japan today obtained their diplomas in western countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, thus making their techniques reliable and safe. When it comes to medical equipments, emigrants should not be alarmed about this since Japan, being the world’s leading country in technology, provides highly-technical and the latest inventions of equipments designed for medicine.

As with other Asian countries, Japan also has problems of delinquent medical practitioners who over-prescribed. Although the only do this for minor ailments like cough, fever, or colds, these are still very much alarming. These are very common among posh and exclusive estates where the rich and the famous reside. Records show that because these patients can afford, they can easily buy off the medical practitioners to provide them with prescriptive drugs with just a few bucks from their pockets. These concerns have alarmed the Japanese government. Although this problem has greatly minimized this day, there are still some that continue this illegal act.

Planning to Emigrate in Japan?

Once you have learned about the health care issues of Japan, carefully go over them and see the pros and the cons. As much as possible, ask your friends who are already in this highly-industrialized as to the real status of Japan because they are they ones that have lived in Japan.

The Internet is also a possible way to find the right facts about Japan, especially their health care system. Take time to study them. Remember that health is a big issue especially if you are an emigrant to a particular place. You are not used to the normal lifestyle of a place you are new and chances are, you will be having a hard time adjusting.

Japan is a place where industry is fast growing and the life is fast-paced. Spend enough time to review what you need to know about this country so that you will not end up staying in a place you are not comfortable in.

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