Living in Japan, international students and technical interns may experience a range of health problems, including colds, fever, stomach pain, allergies and injuries. One of the most common concerns is how much it will cost to see a doctor.
There is no single fixed cost for medical treatment in Japan. The amount you pay depends on your medical condition, the type of consultation, examinations, medication, the medical facility you visit and the health insurance you are enrolled in.
Rather than trying to remember one specific figure, it is more useful to understand how medical costs are calculated and what you should do if you become ill.
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DO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND TECHNICAL INTERNS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE IN JAPAN?
Foreign nationals living in Japan who study or work there generally need to be enrolled in an appropriate public health insurance scheme, depending on their residence status and employment situation.
International students generally join the National Health Insurance scheme (国民健康保険 – Kokumin Kenkō Hoken).
Technical interns working under an employment contract may be enrolled in Employees’ Health Insurance (健康保険) through their employer as part of the Japanese social insurance system.
Therefore, not all Vietnamese people living in Japan necessarily have the same type of health insurance. Before visiting a doctor, check which insurance scheme you are enrolled in and make sure you have the relevant insurance documents or information.
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DO YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT IF YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE?
Yes.
Having health insurance does not mean that medical treatment is completely free. Even when a medical service is covered by insurance, the patient normally has to pay a proportion of the cost themselves.
In addition to the consultation fee, you may also have to pay for examinations, diagnostic imaging, treatment or prescribed medicines.
For this reason, it is advisable to have cash or another suitable payment method available when visiting a clinic or hospital.
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WHY DO DIFFERENT PEOPLE PAY DIFFERENT AMOUNTS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT?
Medical costs in Japan vary according to a number of factors, including:
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The type and severity of the illness or injury
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The medical department and type of consultation
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Whether blood tests, X-rays or other examinations are required
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Whether treatment or medical procedures are necessary
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Any prescribed medication
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The type of health insurance and the services covered
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The time of the consultation and the medical facility
For example, the cost of a consultation followed by a prescription may be quite different from the cost of a consultation that requires additional tests or treatment.
Therefore, you should not assume that your medical bill will be the same as someone else’s.
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DOES THE CONSULTATION FEE INCLUDE THE COST OF MEDICINE?
Not necessarily.
After a consultation, a doctor may issue a prescription. In many cases, you take the prescription to a pharmacy (薬局 – yakkyoku), where you collect the medicine and pay for it separately.
The total cost of treatment may therefore include the consultation, examinations or treatment, and medication.
If you need non-urgent examinations or treatment, you can ask the medical facility or pharmacy about the approximate cost beforehand if necessary.
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WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT IF YOU BECOME ILL?
When you become ill, finding an appropriate medical facility is not the only thing you need to consider. You should also inform the organisation you are studying or working with as soon as possible.
If you are studying, contact your school, teacher or international student support office. If you are working, contact your company, supervisor, accommodation manager or relevant support organisation.
Informing them early allows them to advise you about absence procedures, leave, medical certificates, proof of consultation and any other requirements.
If you are injured in an accident at work or become injured as a result of your work, report the incident to your employer or supervisor as soon as possible. Record the date, time, location and circumstances of the incident, as this information may be needed when confirming the applicable insurance scheme and procedures.
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WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO HOSPITAL?
Do not delay necessary medical treatment simply because you are worried about the cost, particularly if your symptoms are serious.
If the situation is not an emergency, you can:
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Ask the medical facility for an approximate cost before undergoing non-urgent examinations or treatment.
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Check your health insurance status.
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Consult your school, company or relevant person in charge.
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Ask the medical facility about payment methods and when payment is required.
If you have severe difficulty breathing, lose consciousness, experience heavy bleeding, have severe pain or your condition is deteriorating rapidly, seek emergency medical attention without delay.
In Japan, call 119 for an ambulance.
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WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU WHEN VISITING A DOCTOR?
It is advisable to prepare the following:
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Your health insurance card or relevant insurance information
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Identification documents, such as your Residence Card
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Your mobile phone
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Cash or a suitable payment method
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Information about any medicines you are currently taking
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Information about any allergies to medicines
You should also save the contact details of your school, company or person in charge on your phone so that you can contact them quickly if necessary.
If you are not confident speaking Japanese, prepare basic information in advance, such as your symptoms, when they started, where you are experiencing pain, the medicines you are taking and any known allergies. You can write this information down or keep it on your phone.
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WHAT IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR AT NIGHT OR AT THE WEEKEND?
Medical services outside normal hours may operate differently.
Some medical facilities do not provide consultations at night or at weekends. Facilities that do offer out-of-hours services may also have different fees or procedures depending on the circumstances.
If your condition is not an emergency, check the opening hours before travelling to the medical facility. You can also call the facility in advance or ask your school, company or relevant person in charge to help you find an appropriate service.
However, if you are experiencing an emergency, do not delay medical treatment simply because it is outside normal hours or because you are concerned about the cost.
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HOW CAN YOU AVOID UNEXPECTED MEDICAL COSTS?
After arriving in Japan, both international students and technical interns should prepare the following information in advance:
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The type of health insurance you are enrolled in
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Where your insurance documents or information are kept
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The location of nearby clinics, hospitals and pharmacies
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Contact details for your school, company or relevant person in charge
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Medical facilities that provide services at night or at weekends
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Receipts and medical documents received after consultations
If you need non-urgent examinations or treatment, you can also ask about the approximate cost beforehand.
Being prepared will make it easier to respond calmly if you suddenly become ill or are injured.
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SPECIAL POINTS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND TECHNICAL INTERNS
In general, both international students and technical interns should pay attention to their health insurance, medical costs and communication with their school or workplace.
However, certain situations require additional attention.
If a technical intern is injured at work or involved in an accident while travelling to or from work, they should report the incident to their company or supervisor as soon as possible and check which system applies, such as workers’ compensation insurance or cover for commuting accidents.
If you are studying, check your school’s rules concerning absence due to illness. You may be required to provide a medical certificate or proof that you visited a medical facility.
The procedures and documents required may vary depending on the school, company, contract and circumstances of the illness or accident.
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WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT SPEAK MUCH JAPANESE?
Do not delay necessary medical treatment simply because you are not confident speaking Japanese.
Before visiting a medical facility, prepare the following information on your phone or on paper. This can make it easier to explain your condition to the doctor or reception staff.
Symptoms, when it started, where does it hurt?, I am taking medication, I have an allergy, I have my health insurance information.
If communication is difficult, you can ask your school, company or relevant person in charge to help you contact the medical facility or support you during the consultation.
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KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER IF YOU BECOME ILL IN JAPAN
When you become ill in Japan, international students and technical interns do not need to know the exact medical cost in advance. The amount you pay depends on your illness or injury, examinations, treatment, medication and health insurance.
The important points to remember are:
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Check which health insurance scheme you are enrolled in.
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Inform your school, workplace or relevant organisation as soon as possible if you become ill.
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Take your insurance information and identification documents when visiting a medical facility.
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Ask about the approximate cost of non-urgent examinations or treatment when necessary.
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Keep your medical receipts and documents.
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If you are injured at work or in an accident while commuting, report it to the relevant person as soon as possible.
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In an emergency, prioritise medical treatment and call 119 if necessary.
Knowing how your health insurance works and keeping the contact details of nearby medical facilities, your school, company or other relevant contacts will help you respond more calmly if you become ill or injured in Japan.
CONTACT INFORMATION
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN TOHOKU SÔNG ĐÀ
Address: L02-L01, Khu A, KĐT Dương Nội, Phường Dương Nội, Hà Nội
Hotline: 0989 044 852 / 0989044852
Email: tohokusongda2014@gmail.com
Website: tohoku.vn