Chapter 6

Medical Services
Chapter 1•		Types of medical institutions
There are a variety of medical institutions in Japan and each one has its own role. If yourmedical concern is not severe, visit a local clinic.

ii.		

Middle-scale hospital: For surgeries, hospitalization and emergency careiii.		

Large-scale hospital: For critical emergencies and advanced medical treatment

Present your health insurance card at the hospital or clinic, or otherwise you will cover theChapter 6		

Doctor’s offices, clinics: For treatment of mild symptoms and slight injuries.

Chapter 5•i.		

Chapter 4

1-1

Chapter 3

Medical institutions

Chapter 2

1full amount of medical expenses.		

Find a doctor depends on your symptoms of illness or injuries. Here are some examples:
Diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the internal organs

Medicine(digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and urinary organs, blood, endocrine,nerves, etc.) mainly with medication without operations. You can also seethem when you catch a cold or have general health problems
Surgical treatments mainly by oerations for internal organs damaged bycancer and injuries
Treatment of children’s illness

Orthopedics

Treatment of the locomotive systems such as bones, joints, muscles,
tendons and its related nerves
Diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders
Treatment of teeth; endodontics, orthodontics, etc.

Obstetrics

Treatment of pregnancy, childbirth, newborns and related disorders etc.

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Chapter 12

Dentistry

Chapter 11

Ophthalmology

Chapter 10

Pediatrics

Chapter 9

Surgery.

Chapter 8Internal

Chapter 7•

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Medical Services

1-2		

You can search for one using any of the following:
Municipal newsletters issued by the municipal office in your areaii.		 Online
iii.		In addition, you can also search for medical institutions (hub medical institutions and other medical facilities

that can accept foreign patients, selected by prefectures) in foreign languages on the website of the Japan National
Tourism Organization (JNTO) for foreign travelers visiting Japan.

•		It is also possible to consult at the following:
The municipal office in your areaii.		

A Medical Safety Support Center (*)*		Medical Safety Support Centers are located in about 390 in prefectures, municipalities with public health centers
Chapter 6and wards in Tokyo.

See the following URL for details:		

If you do not speak Japanese, you can consult at the following:
The municipal office in your areaii.		

International associations near youiii.		

NPOs (they may speak your language)

Chapter 8i.		

Chapter 7

https://www.anzen-shien.jp/center/•

Chapter 5i.		

Chapter 4

https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/jpn/mi_guide.html

Chapter 3*		Medical Information Net, which is provided online by your prefectural government

Chapter 2i.		

Chapter 1•

How to find medical institution

Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 1261

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Medical Services

Medical Insurance
No matter where you are from, you are obliged to enroll in public medical insurance in Japan.

Chapter 1

2This is a Japanese social system to guarantee that any resident can equally receives medical

Chapter 3

2-1

Health Insurance

Those who work for a company which is obliged to have their employees enroll in the healthi.		

Regular employees, chief executives, board of directors

ii.		

Those who fulfill all of the following:		

who work during office hours for over 20 hours a week;•		who are expected to work for more than a year for thecompany;		

who earn more than 88,000 yen a month;•		who are not students; and•		

who work for a company with more than 501 employees.

for less than 30 hours a week but work over three fourths of
the weekly labour hours of a regular employee at the same

Chapter 9company (work place)

As a rule, both the companies (employers) and the insured pay half of the health insurance
premiums. Dependents of the insured do not need to pay premiums.

Chapter 11(3) Benefits

The copayment ratio of medical expenses for the insured is as follows:•		Preschool infants under six years old........... 20%•		School-age children through adults up to69 years old............................................................ 30%
Adults aged 70 to 74 years old...................... 20% (Wage-earners at their pre-retirement
income level: 30%)62

Chapter 12

Copayment of medical expenses		

Chapter 10(2) Insurance premiums•

Chapter 8

Those who work as a part-time worker or a temporary staff

Chapter 7•

Chapter 6•

Chapter 5

insurance and are obliged to enroll in the health insurance:

Chapter 4(1) Enrollment Requirements

iii.		

Chapter 2

services at a high standard at low cost by sharing the cost across the whole of society.

6Medical Services

Medical expenses

When you have just been employed by a company and not received an insurance card yet;•		When you purchase medical devices such as a cast;•		 When you have received an acupuncture, moxibustion or massage which your doctor
deems medically necessary; or•		When you have received medical services outside of Japan.

High-cost medical care expenses•

		 The reason why the patient has difficulties in transportation is his/her injury or illness whichis the cause of the transportation;•

		It was an emergency and unavoidable.

Accident and Sickness Allowance

The duration of payment will be onward for up to 18 months in total counting from the firstday of payment.

This is a benefit for an insured or his dependent to help cover expenses related to childbirth.
As a general rule, the allowance per child is 420,000 yen.

Family Medical Expenses
If the dependents of an insured get ill or injured, the insured will be eligible to receive Family
Medical Expenses. The range, measure and duration of the payment are the same as that ofMedical Expenses for the insured.

63

Chapter 12

An insured of health insurance will be eligible to receive Maternity Leave Allowance when she
takes leave for give birth. The allowance is paid for the days the insured is away from work during
a period starting 42 days (98 days in the case of multiple pregnancies) before the estimateddelivery day and 56 days afterward.

Chapter 11

Maternity Leave Allowance

Chapter 10

Childbirth and Childcare lump-sum grant

Chapter 9

When the insured is unable to work due to illness or injury and have been absent from work forthree consecutive days, accident and sickness allowance will be paid from the fourth day of absence.

Chapter 8		

Chapter 7

You have been properly treated at the medical institution where you had been transferred to;•Chapter 6

If a patient has a difficulty in moving due to illness or injury, but get transferred due to atemporary and emergency need as instructed by a doctor, he/she will be eligible for reimbursementof his/her medical transportation expenses in cash in cases where the following requirements are
fulfilled:

Chapter 5

Medical transportation expenses

Chapter 4

The high-cost medical treatment system is a financial support system for cases where the total
amount of medical expenses during a month that are paid for treatment or medications (exceptthe cost for food and bed during in hospital) exceeds a certain limit. In such cases, the over-thelimit amount will be covered. The fixed monthly copayment limit varies with age (whether theinsured is under 70 years old or not) and the income level of the insured.

Chapter 3		

Chapter 2•

Chapter 1

In the following cases, you will need to pay the full amount of expenses byyourself; however, once your application is approved, you will be eligible forreimbursement of the expenses minus your copayment:

6Medical Services

2-2

National Health Insurance
Chapter 1(1) Enrollment requirements		

All registered residents who are under 75 and are not in Employees’ Health Insurance areobliged to get enrolled in National Health Insurance.
•		 Foreign nationals are obliged to join National Health Insurance

The period of stay is less than three months (*);

ii.		

The status of residence is “Temporary Visitor”;

iii.		The status of residence is “Designated Activities” and the activities are specified as“to receive medical treatment” or “to provide everyday assistance for someone who is

Chapter 4i.		

Chapter 3

except in the following cases:

Chapter 2•

engaged in the activities meantioned above”;
The status of residence is “Designated Activities” and the activities are specified as“sightseeing, recreation or other similar activities”;
The status of residence is “Diplomat”;

vi.		

Persons who do not have a valid status of residence; orvii.		

Persons who are from a country with which the Japanese government has a social

security agreement with including health insurance, and have an official certificate
their home country.
Even if your period of stay is shorter than three months, you can join the National Health Insurance if your statusof residence is one of the following and if you have any document to certify that your stay will be longer than threemonths:		

“Entertainer”•

		”Technical Intern Training”•

		“Dependent”•		Designated Activities (except iii. and iv. above)

area. Ask the municipal office for more details.
(*) You must withdraw from National Health Insurance in the following cases:
When you move to a different municipality; orii.		

When you join Employee’s Health Insurance.

64

Chapter 12i.		

Chapter 11

You can join in or withdraw from National Health Insurance at the municipal office in yourChapter 10(2) Enrollment and withdrawal application

Chapter 9•

Chapter 8*		Chapter 7

issued by the government to show their membership of the social insurance system in

Chapter 6v.		

Chapter 5iv.		

6

Medical Services(3) Insurance premiums
the insured’s income or the number of the household. This amount is paid by the head of theChapter 1Insurance premiums are calculated on a per-household basis and decided according tohousehold.
at the municipal office in your area.

Chapter 3(4) Benefits
Copayment of medical expenses•

		Preschool infants under six years old........... 20%•		School-age children through adults up to		Adults aged 70 to 74 years old...................... 20% (Wage-earners at their preretirement
income level: 30%)

In the following cases, you will need to pay the full amount of expenses byreimbursement of the expenses minus your copayment:		

When you have just been employed by a company and not yet received an insurance card;•		When you purchase medical devices such as a cast;•		When you have received an acupuncture, moxibustion and massage which your doctor

deems medically necessary; or		

When you have had medical services outside of Japan.

High-cost medical care expenses
amount of medical expenses during a month that are paid for treatment or medications (except
the cost for food and bed during in hospital) exceeds a certain limit. In such cases, the over-thelimit amount will be covered. The fixed monthly copayment limit varies with age (whether theChapter 11

insured is under 70 years old or not) and the income level of the insured.

Chapter 10

The high-cost medical treatment system is a financial support system for cases where the total

Chapter 9•

Chapter 8•

Chapter 7

yourself; however, once your application is approved, you will be eligible for

Chapter 6

Medical expenses

Chapter 5

69 years old............................................................ 30%

Chapter 4

The copayment ratio of medical expenses for an insured is as follows:•Chapter 2*		 Insurance premiums may be reduced in accordance with income and other circumstances. Ask for further information

Chapter 1265

6Medical Services

Medical transportation expenses
temporary and emergency need as instructed by a doctor, he/she will be eligible for reimbursementof his/her medical transportation expenses in cash in cases where the following requirements are•		You have been properly treated at the medical institution where you had been transferredto;		

The reason why the patient has difficulties in transportation is his/her injury or illness whichis the cause of the transportation;•		It was an emergency and unavoidable.

This is a benefit for an insured or his dependent to help cover expenses related to childbirth.
As a general rule, the allowance per child is 420,000 yen.

Chapter 4Childbirth and Childcare lump-sum grant

Chapter 3•

Chapter 2

fulfilled:

Chapter 1

If a patient has a difficulty in moving due to illness or injury, but get transferred due to a

Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 1266

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Medical Services

2-3

Medical Care System for Elderly in the Latter Stage of Life
Chapter 1(1) Enrollment Requirements

Chapter 2When you become 75 years of age•

		All registered residents in Japan aged 75 years or older must join the•		Those who are between 65 and 74 years old and have been approved

as having certain disabilities can also join this program.		

You have to withdraw from other insurance programs (National Health Insurance, HealthInsurance Associations, Japan Health Insurance Association, or Mutual Aid Association, etc.)•		All foreign nationals aged 75 years or older, except in the following cases, must join thisThe period of stay is less than three months (*);

ii.		

The status of residence is “Temporary Visitor”;

iii.		The status of residence is “Designated Activities” and the activities are specified as“to receive medical treatment” or “to provide everyday assistance for someone who isChapter 6i.		

Chapter 5

program as well:

Chapter 4•Chapter 3

Medical Care System for Elderly in the Latter Stage of Life.

engaged in the activities meantioned above”;
The status of residence is “Designated Activities” and the activities are specified as“sightseeing, recreation or other similar activities”;
The status of residence is “Diplomat”;

vi.		

Persons who do not have a valid status of residence; orvii.		

Persons who are from a country with which the Japanese government has a social

Chapter 8v.		

Chapter 7iv.		

security agreement including health insurance, and have an official certificate issued bycountry.
Even if your period of stay is shorter than three months, you can join the program if your status of residence is

one of the following and if you have any document to certify that your stay will be longer than three months:		

“Entertainer”•

		“Technical Intern Training”•

		“Dependent”•

		“Designated Activities” (except iii. and iv. above)Your application can be submitted at the municipal office in your area. Ask the municipal
office for more details. Those who move to another municipality in another prefecture should
withdraw from this program.

67

Chapter 12(2) Enrollment and withdrawal application

Chapter 11•

Chapter 10*		

Chapter 9

the government to show their membership of the social insurance system in their home

6

Medical Services(3) Insurance Premiums
There are cases in which the premiums are reduced for dependents in the employees’ health

Chapter 1

Insurance premiums are the total amount of per-capita base and income-base charges.
insurance or for the insured in accordance with their income level and life status. Ask for more

Chapter 2

details at the municipal office in your area.

(4) Benefits

Chapter 3

Copayment of medical expenses
10%. However, if you have an income at a preretirement level, your portion is 30%.

Medical expenses
yourself; however, once your application is approved, you will be eligible forreimbursement of the expenses minus your copayment:		

When you have just been employed by a company and not yet received aninsurance card;		

When you purchase medical devices such as a cast;•		When you have received an acupuncture, moxibustion and massage which your doctor

deems medically necessary; or•		

When you have had medical services outside of Japan.

The high-cost medical treatment system is a financial support system for cases where the(except the cost for food and bed during in hospital) exceeds a certain limit. In such cases, theover-the-limit amount will be covered. The fixed monthly copayment limit varies with the income

Chapter 9

total amount of medical expenses during a month that are paid for treatment or medications

Chapter 8

High-cost medical care expenses

Chapter 7•

Chapter 6•

Chapter 5

In the following cases, you will need to pay the full amount of expenses by

Chapter 4

When you receive medical treatment under the insurance coverage, your copayment ratio islevel of the insured.

If a patient has a difficulty in moving due to illness or injury, but get transferred due to an
expenses in cash in cases where the following requirements are fulfilled:•		You have been properly treated at the medical institution where you had been transferred•		The reason why the patient has difficulties in transportation is his/her injury or illness whichis the cause of the transportation;•		It was an emergency and unavoidable.

68

Chapter 12to;

Chapter 11

instruction by a doctor, he/she will be eligible for reimbursement of his/her medical transportation

Chapter 10

Medical transportation expenses

6

Medical Services

Medicine		

Medicine can be purchased at pharmacies and drugstores.

•		Medicine is often used to cure diseases and injuries. However, bear in mind that any medicine

has side effects and that it should be handled with care.
•		If you have any questions about any medicine, consult a pharmacist or a registered drug*		Pharmacies
A pharmacy is a shop where pharmacists prepare and compound prescription medications

Drugstores
OTC drugs are available at drug stores. However, prescription medications cannot be preparedat drugstores.

Chapter 63-2

Chapter 5for you. OTC drugs are also available.

Chapter 43-1

A registered drug seller offers some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs as well.

Chapter 3seller at the drugstore.

Chapter 2•Chapter 1

3

Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 1269