Medical Care

Finding a doctor or other health care provider can be a difficult experience in a new country. A good place to start is in the handbook on the university's homepage.

Insurance

• National Health Insurance

Japan has a very good national health insurance system called kokumin-hoken (国民保険). As a student you are probably a part of this system. Be sure to bring your insurance card, kokumin-hokenshou (国民保険証) with you when you visit a doctor, dentist, or other health care facility.

Your kokumin-hoken will cover 70% of the costs of most medical treatment. Usually medical facilities will charge you 30% and collect the 70% through the insurance system. Some may charge you 100% and then you must seek reimbursement from the insurance system. (Someone please add how to do this. I think you have to visit the kuyakushou?)

• Additional Student Insurance

As of 2004, as a student you may be eligible for reimbursement of 80% of the 30% you had to pay. Submit the form "Registration for Medical Fee Compensation" to the Japan Student Services Organization through the law school office. You need to save all of your receipts to be eligible for this additional insurance. Dependents listed under the students insurance are NOT eligible for this reimbursement.

Finding a Doctor

• A good place for simple medical issues is the university health administration office. From experience it seems that these services are usually given without charge but are limited. They can also refer you to another clinic for more serious issues. Check here for details.

• The Nagoya International Center has a search feature for doctors offering treatment in other languages including English.

Other links

• Health Hokkaido is an interesting page in English about health issues in Japan. Although it is mainly for residents of Hokkaido, it still has useful general information.

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