Health Care Services in Japan
Heath care services in Japan are remarkable and most of the health care facilities are equipped with advanced technology. You can easily locate a clinic or hospital for each area of Japan.
If you are staying in Japan for a long time, if it is for work or residency reason you are required by the government to enroll in an health insurance system. Health insurance is a big help as it will cover almost 70% of your hospital expenses, although you will still be asked to pay the remaining 30%.
There are two health insurance system in Japan.
Employee’s Health Insurance
This health insurance is required for those who are currently employed and working for an organization. The employer’s help their employees enroll in the health insurance system and the monthly fees are calculated based on the employee’s salary and are automatically deducted per month’s salary.
National Health Insurance ( NHI )
This health insurance is for those who are self-employed and unemployed individuals staying in Japan. Foreigners who are also staying in Japan for at least three months and is not enrolled in the Employee’s Health Insurance system are required to apply for National Health Insurance.
For application you can visit NHI department at your local ward office. Don’t forget to bring your Residence card.
It is advised that Non-Japanese who will be staying in Japan for atleast three months should immediately process their application for Health Insurance System. Failure to acquire your Health Insurance at a later date will require you to pay for the months starting at your arrival date up to the date of your first month insurance payment.
For Clinic and Hospital location finder please visit Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Institution Information
Let’s Learn Japanese!
Japanese | English |
---|---|
Sumimasen, chikaku no yakkyoku o shitte imasu ka | Excuse me do you know a nearby pharmacy? |
Zutsuuyaku wa arimasu ka | Is there a medicine for headache? |
Kazegusuri wa arimasu ka | Is there a medicine for colds? |
Igusuri wa arimasu ka | Is there a medicine for stomach ache? |
Hokenshou o omochi desu ka | Do you have your health insurance card? |
English | Kanji (漢字) | Romaji (ローマ字) | |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital | 病院 | びょおいん | byooin |
Doctor | 医者 | いしゃ | isha |
Body | 体 | からだ | karada |
Allergy | – | アレルギー | arerugii |
Medicine | 薬 | くすり | kusuri |
Headache | 頭が痛い | あたまがいたい | atama ga itai |
Stomach ache | お腹が痛い | おなかがいたい | onaka ga itai |
Sore throat | 喉が痛い | のどがいたい | nodo ga itai |
Body is itchy | 体が痒い | からだがかゆい | karada ga kayui |
Do not feel good | 気持ちが悪い | きもちがわるい | Kimochi ga warui |
Have a fever | 熱が在る | ねつがある | Netsu ga aru |
Have a cough | せきがでる | せきがでる | Seki ga deru |
Sneezing | くしゃみがでる | くしゃみがでる | Kushami ga deru |
Have a runny nose | 鼻水がでる | はなみずがでる | hanamizu ga deru |
Have chills | 寒気がする | さむけがする | samuke ga suru |
Catch a cold | – | かぜをひく | kaze o hiku |
Hay fever / Pollen allergy | 花粉症 | かふんしょお | Kafunshoo |
Health insurance card | 保険証 | ほけんしょお | hokenshoo |
Medical questionnaire | 医療アンケート | いりょうあんけえと | iryou ankeeto |
Examination room | 診察室 | しなつしつ | shinatsushitsu |
Pharmacy / Drug store | 薬局 | やっきょく | Yakkyoku |
Prescription | 処方箋 | しょほおせん | shohoosen |