There are many pros and cons to living in Japan and expats can feel overwhelmed with the list of dos and don’ts. You can learn more about this in our Culture and Social Etiquette section. Incorrect positions can be rude or, worse, a symbol for death. It is important to place your chopsticks on the table correctly whenever you are not using them. Chopsticks are used in most meals in Japan.
One important custom to learn when moving to Japan is the proper way to handle chopsticks. While these are all true, there are other practicalities to be aware of when making the Land of the Rising Sun your new home. From crowns to chiropractors, the NHI has your back.Are you wondering how it is to live in Japan? Images of the country typically include snow-capped mountains, bustling city streets, and conveyor belts of sushi. It’s the simplest and often most efficient system, with just about every hospital or doctor you would like to see covered under one simple system. Overall, it’s an easy system to navigate, and all residents of Japan (foreign or not) are required to have medical insurance. Kenkou hoken and kokumin kenkou hoken cannot happen simultaneously–either you register and pay your premiums directly (often with a handy dandy packet you can take to a local convenience store), or your employer pays your premiums. Other than who pays, not much is different between the NHI and employees health insurance, as both will receive the same benefits and/or co-pays on medical treatments and health services. This is paid by your employer, where they take care of the paperwork and pay your insurance premiums each month. There is also what’s known as just kenkou hoken, or health insurance.
These prices can range, but don’t fret too much, as even under private insurance, costs are constantly reviewed by the Ministry of Health to ensure a fair and even rate across the board. Some citizens also choose private insurance to help with conditions not covered through the NHI, as both can coexist for double coverage. Yes, there are! Tourists, for example (or residents under a four-month stay), can apply for private health insurance or travel insurance through outside companies. Photo from Unsplash by Jérémy Stenuit Are there other options besides NHI? Failure to pay will result in penalties of a temporary card of having your wages garnished until the outstanding debt is paid for. This also covers both dental and vision-related medical expenses.īy registering yourself with the municipality of your residence, your local government system pays for your medical fees. Payment for the NHI is on a sliding income scale and maximum premiums encompass a wide range with the absolute top being ￥580,000 per year, with a co-pay ceiling of ￥150,000+. All citizens not covered by their employer are covered by the National Health Insurance system and enrollment in some kind of insurance is mandatory.įoreigners are eligible for National Health Insurance (NHI) if they are working in Japan with proper visa documentation and not covered by their place of work. The current Japanese National Health Insurance system is a somewhat more complicated single-payer system born out of social welfare reforms after WWⅡ as a way to ensure all citizens of Japan were not overly burdened by medical bills. Photo from Unsplash by Adhy Savala What is National Health Insurance?
0 kommentar(er)
