Views on Health Care

  • “Could someone please explain to me why I am forced to spend more money to buy a government insurance plan that only pays for 70% of my medical expenses, when I can spend less money for a private insurance plan that pays 100% of my medical expenses? Not to mention that the government insurance will not pay for a licensed foreign doctor in Japan while private insurance will. Where is the logic in this?” -Dean [Tokyo]
  • “Surely it is obvious that non-citizens should not be required to pay for two major medical plans.” -I.P., University Lecturer [Osaka]
  • “Although considered as a full-time employee by my company, I am officially registered as part time and, as such would have to join the National Insurance as a self-employed person. This means that I would have to bear the costs totally on my own, while my company makes no extra contributions. How is this fair? I am very happy with my private insurance and feel that I would have to continue to subscribe to it even if I were obliged to join the National Insurance, as this does not meet all my needs. The cost of paying into two schemes would indeed be a heavy burden.” -A.S. [Tokyo]
  • “My free choice is that my university enroll me into the social insurance like they do the Japanese instructors. This is a form of discrimination and it makes me feel like a second-class citizen.” -Name withheld upon request [Kyoto]
  • “I have been living here for more than 20 years. I am on the NHI and do not find anything objectionable about Japanese hospitals or physicians. However, I do understand why a foreigner who is only going to be here a few years would prefer a private or international insurance plan.” -Name withheld upon request [Hyogo]
  • “My wife and I are both permanent residents, we own our own home and may even live here permanently. But in my profession, we travel to a lot to developing nations where the quality of medical care is not always that good. We are on a private major medical plan with worldwide coverage. It covers us for many things we need which we would not get if we were on the social system (emergency evacuation, repatriation, etc). We have been on the plan for more than 8 years and wish to continue to do so. Since we don't know whether we will be here for the rest of our lives, we feel more secure on a plan that has comprehensive worldwide coverage. ” -Mr. & Mrs G. [Tokyo]
  • “Perhaps the one thing I dislike more than anything is having to go to a Japanese hospital for treatment. They NEVER fail to embarrass me in front of the other patients. There is little privacy and the doctors act like they are God's gift to the earth. Lately, I have been going to see a British doctor in Tokyo and he's been more like family to me.” -K [Saitama]
  • “I fully support free choice for expats in Japan to be able to choose their own health care plan. If government wants to ask us to show proof on a plan, fine. But let us choose our own.” -P.W. [Kanagawa]
  • “I need insurance that will cover me for the 4 months that I reside outside of Japan. I can not afford to pay for both public and private insurance.” -Rob, University Professor [Tokyo]
  • “I believe Japan needs to adopt a more sensible reflective approach to health care for non-Japanese, one with choice for its recipients.” -David, University Lecturer [Tokyo]
  • “While I am not adverse to the payment of government insurance, I do very strongly object to paying 2 years back payments for something I have never used and have taken no benefit from. It is analogous to someone going into a restaurant for dinner, and then being charged for lunch as well.” -B.C., Teacher [Chiba]
  • “Why can't it be "compulsory health insurance", instead of "compulsory social insurance"? If we have some kind of cover, isn't that all that matters? I need my private health care and don't see why I should have to pay for a service I can't or won't use.” -T.E., Student [Tokyo]
  • “In addition to living in Japan , I have to travel often to other countries and therefore need to be on an international health insurance plan which has comprehensive coverage such as medical evacuation and repatriation. Provided I can prove that I have sufficient coverage to not be a burden to Japan in my health needs, I see no reason why Japan should be concerned how I provide health coverage to myself and my family.” -S.M., Business Manager [Tokyo]