In Japan you can go to the doctor whenever you need to without worrying about the cost. When I came to Japan it took me several years to become accustomed to this. For several years before I came to Japan I was under insured. My insurance was as comprehensive as American insurance policies get. However in order to make it affordable I had a very high deductible. This meant that I always had to pay out of pocket and I developed the habit of self rationing health care. Often I would suffer though things like allergies or sinus infections without going to the doctor. After coming to Japan gradually I realized that I do not have to do this. The co-payment for a doctor's visit is less than $10 and for a prescription it is rarely more than $10. Now I go to the doctor when symptoms first appear. I suffer less and almost never miss work.
My medical insurance in the states cost $180 a month for just me and never paid out a cent. The only time the company paid out was when I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle, and even then, they recovered what they paid when I settled with the motorist's auto insurance. But that did not stop them from rationing my care. They would not pay for all the physical therapy my doctor prescribed, so I was not able to receive all of it.
In Japan we don't have this kind of problem. There is no rationing, there are no deductibles, and everything is covered. You don't have to wait in line for an appointment or get a referral for a specialist. Your doctor does not have to get authorization from an insurance company to treat you. If you want a second opinion you just go get one as my wife did when she needed one. And the cost? My wife and I pay about $240 a month for the two of us and this will not increase when we have children. It will change if our income changes but then we will be able to afford it. I'm very happy with this system.
Michael Rector
Nagoya, Japan
California
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I love going to the chiropractor in Japan
I love going to the chiropractor in Japan. He usually starts me off with about five minutes on a massage bed. Then, he briefly massages my upper body to help me relax before finally "adjusting" my neck and back. And if I'm in need of extra care, I can also have other treatments such as acupuncture and electrotherapy. All for a whopping 500 yen! You gotta love Japan.
Jeremy Berg
Miyazaki-ken
California
Jeremy Berg
Miyazaki-ken
California
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Maternity stay in U.S. reimbursed
Although I live in Japan with my Japanese husband, I gave birth to my first child in the United States (Montana) and had some intervention. I had saved all of my hospital receipts and after returning to Japan, I was able to submit all of the bills (approximately $3200) to the Japanese Health Care system. In Japan, at that time, all births were covered up to 300,000 yen ($3000). We only had to pay out of pocket about $200. It would have cost more had I stayed in the hospital with my new baby for more than one night. In Japan, it is common for new mothers and babies to stay one week. Depending on the hospital, the price can vary, but in general, the cost runs around the reimbursement amount of 300,000 yen. I am not sure what amount American insurance covers in childbirth, but I felt we were pretty lucky to get the $3000 back!
Brooke
Yamaki, Japan
Minnesota
Brooke
Yamaki, Japan
Minnesota
Punitive system of no Medicare coverage for citizens abroad bad economic policy
As US citizens who have worked and lived many years abroad, our greatest problem related to health care is the total lack of any overseas Medicare coverage following our retirement.
Even though we paid for Medicare coverage all the years of our employment, there is no coverage provided for those living outside the US. This puts us at a great disadvantage as well as in danger of not being able to afford necessary treatment, especially in the case of health emergencies. There is also the additional cost of returning to the US for treatment or going without adequate coverage for health care while abroad.
In order to have coverage for Medicare Part B, etc,.there are mandatory reductions from our Social Security. And even though we are paying these amounts on top of what was deducted from our salaries over the years, no coverage is provided unless we are able to return to the US for such treatment.
In most, if not all cases, the costs of equivalent health services are less overseas than in the US. This is another reason why the punitive system of not providing Medicare coverage for US citizens abroad is a poor choice in terms of economic policy.
Please put this issue at the forefront in seeking improvement to the health care of US citizens residing abroad.
Sincerely,
George W. Gish, Jr.
Tokyo, Japan
Illinois
Even though we paid for Medicare coverage all the years of our employment, there is no coverage provided for those living outside the US. This puts us at a great disadvantage as well as in danger of not being able to afford necessary treatment, especially in the case of health emergencies. There is also the additional cost of returning to the US for treatment or going without adequate coverage for health care while abroad.
In order to have coverage for Medicare Part B, etc,.there are mandatory reductions from our Social Security. And even though we are paying these amounts on top of what was deducted from our salaries over the years, no coverage is provided unless we are able to return to the US for such treatment.
In most, if not all cases, the costs of equivalent health services are less overseas than in the US. This is another reason why the punitive system of not providing Medicare coverage for US citizens abroad is a poor choice in terms of economic policy.
Please put this issue at the forefront in seeking improvement to the health care of US citizens residing abroad.
Sincerely,
George W. Gish, Jr.
Tokyo, Japan
Illinois
Injured in America, Treated in Japan
About a year and a half ago, I was in the United States, visiting New York City.
Coming out of a store, I stepped off a curb without looking.
This careless move resulted in a complex fracture of my right wrist, and an avulsion fracture of my right ankle.
I was told this when I went to the emergency room there.
That 3-hour visit cost almost three thousand dollars.
I was also told I would need immediate surgery, or I could expect to have a deformed hand -- a hand I may not be able to use again (I am right-handed).
I turned to my husband and said, "Take me home."
"Home" is Japan.
My local national (public) hospital is 10 minutes from my house.
I felt better the minute I got there. The young woman at the information desk is my neighbor's daughter, the orthopedic nurse is the mother of my son's former classmate, in the outpatient clinic we saw a farmer from the village where we used to live -- he tried to give us 'consolation' money ...)
X-rays confirmed that I had a Smith's fracture of the hand, and would need surgery as soon as possible.
I was admitted to the hospital on the spot -- the 3-hour surgery took place two days later.
I was ready to go home after a week, but as I could neither walk nor use my hand, I was kept in the hospital for three weeks.
The doctors said it was for my own "comfort and convenience." They asked me to "please relax, and let the nurses take care of you."
I assured them that I could function in our house without having to go to the second floor.
But they said it would be too difficult for me to get around, get food etc. while my husband was at work every day.
When an American friend asked how did they know that, I told her: "They asked me. They wanted to know where the toilets in my house were located, if there were stairs, would I be able to sleep on the first floor, and if there was another person to be with me throughout the day."
After being released from the hospital, I continued in rehabilitation for almost six months.
Twice a week, I worked with an occupational therapist for one hour on my hand, and one hour with a physical therapist for my leg.
I am happy to report both my hand and leg are back in fine working order!
The bill for all this (3-hour surgery, 3-week hospital stay, 6 months rehab) was about $2000 -- or, less than a few hours in the emergency room in NY.
Karen Hill Anton
Shizuoka, Japan
California
Coming out of a store, I stepped off a curb without looking.
This careless move resulted in a complex fracture of my right wrist, and an avulsion fracture of my right ankle.
I was told this when I went to the emergency room there.
That 3-hour visit cost almost three thousand dollars.
I was also told I would need immediate surgery, or I could expect to have a deformed hand -- a hand I may not be able to use again (I am right-handed).
I turned to my husband and said, "Take me home."
"Home" is Japan.
My local national (public) hospital is 10 minutes from my house.
I felt better the minute I got there. The young woman at the information desk is my neighbor's daughter, the orthopedic nurse is the mother of my son's former classmate, in the outpatient clinic we saw a farmer from the village where we used to live -- he tried to give us 'consolation' money ...)
X-rays confirmed that I had a Smith's fracture of the hand, and would need surgery as soon as possible.
I was admitted to the hospital on the spot -- the 3-hour surgery took place two days later.
I was ready to go home after a week, but as I could neither walk nor use my hand, I was kept in the hospital for three weeks.
The doctors said it was for my own "comfort and convenience." They asked me to "please relax, and let the nurses take care of you."
I assured them that I could function in our house without having to go to the second floor.
But they said it would be too difficult for me to get around, get food etc. while my husband was at work every day.
When an American friend asked how did they know that, I told her: "They asked me. They wanted to know where the toilets in my house were located, if there were stairs, would I be able to sleep on the first floor, and if there was another person to be with me throughout the day."
After being released from the hospital, I continued in rehabilitation for almost six months.
Twice a week, I worked with an occupational therapist for one hour on my hand, and one hour with a physical therapist for my leg.
I am happy to report both my hand and leg are back in fine working order!
The bill for all this (3-hour surgery, 3-week hospital stay, 6 months rehab) was about $2000 -- or, less than a few hours in the emergency room in NY.
Karen Hill Anton
Shizuoka, Japan
California
It's satisfactory and affordable
The public citizens' health insurance offered to Japanese citizens is what I/we use. It's satisfactory and affordable.
I wish Obama would consider single payer health care
I have a couple good health care stories since I first came to Japan 4 years ago but the one that sticks in my mind the most was 2 years ago at Christmastime.
(For reference I am under the Japanese National Health Care System which is a single payer system that takes a fixed percentage of my salary every month)
Two days before Christmas 2 years ago I had developed a extremely sore throat and was worried so I decided to go to my local hospital in Chofu. When I arrived I had a severe fever and I could barely swallow. I walked into the hospital and was seen by a bi-lingual physician almost immediately (maybe a 5 minute wait after showing my National Health Care Card) who examined my throat, asked when it had began and took my temperature. He decided that a throat culture was necessary and it was sent to the lab. In the meantime he prescribed a painkiller and antibiotic and asked me to come back in 2 days. While the painkiller certainly helped my throat pain, it seemed that the antibiotic was having no effect. When I went back to the hospital they informed me that I had a severe case of Strep throat and I needed a much stronger antibiotic, which was prescribed immediately.
After 1 and 1/2 weeks of antibiotics I was healthy and able to enjoy the New Years celebration (unfortunately no alcohol)!
The total cost of this treatment including prescribed drugs and lab work?
Roughly 7000 yen ($70.00)
I honestly can't imagine if the same thing happened to me in the states, nor how much it would have cost as I usually never could get affordable coverage back home. I am a firm believer in the Single Payer Health Care System, and I wish it was on the table for the upcoming Health Care Initiative that President Obama will be working on.
Michael Hoctor
Japan
Massachusetts
(For reference I am under the Japanese National Health Care System which is a single payer system that takes a fixed percentage of my salary every month)
Two days before Christmas 2 years ago I had developed a extremely sore throat and was worried so I decided to go to my local hospital in Chofu. When I arrived I had a severe fever and I could barely swallow. I walked into the hospital and was seen by a bi-lingual physician almost immediately (maybe a 5 minute wait after showing my National Health Care Card) who examined my throat, asked when it had began and took my temperature. He decided that a throat culture was necessary and it was sent to the lab. In the meantime he prescribed a painkiller and antibiotic and asked me to come back in 2 days. While the painkiller certainly helped my throat pain, it seemed that the antibiotic was having no effect. When I went back to the hospital they informed me that I had a severe case of Strep throat and I needed a much stronger antibiotic, which was prescribed immediately.
After 1 and 1/2 weeks of antibiotics I was healthy and able to enjoy the New Years celebration (unfortunately no alcohol)!
The total cost of this treatment including prescribed drugs and lab work?
Roughly 7000 yen ($70.00)
I honestly can't imagine if the same thing happened to me in the states, nor how much it would have cost as I usually never could get affordable coverage back home. I am a firm believer in the Single Payer Health Care System, and I wish it was on the table for the upcoming Health Care Initiative that President Obama will be working on.
Michael Hoctor
Japan
Massachusetts
I can go to any dentist of my choice
I currently live in Tokyo, Japan. I am a citizen born abroad--born in Japan. I lived in the States for 15 years, but my family stayed in Japan.
When I was in nursing school about 7 years ago, my tooth started hurting.
I had dental insurance, but when I called to make an appointment, not one dentist in the area would accept my insurance. They all said that my insurance "never paid" so they stopped accepting it.
After calling over 20 dentists, I finally gave up and got seen, self-pay. I was told that I needed to see a specialist to get a root canal. However, again, no one would take my insurance, and I could not afford the $1000 + that the procedure would cost. If I need a crown placed, I would have to pay much more.
The dentist told me that the only other option I had was to go to the Emergency Room where my tooth would be pulled.
I was in my 20s! I REFUSED to get my tooth pulled! All I needed was a root canal!
So what did I do?
I saved up my student loan money, waited for 4 months until Christmas break and flew back to Japan where my family lived--and where I still was covered under the National Health Insurance.
The morning after I arrived in Japan, I went to a dentist and got a root canal. Just like that. I think it cost me, mmm, like $30.
My tooth was in such bad shape--my face was swollen, I couldn't chew because my gums were so swollen that it lifted up my infected tooth, and I was in so much pain. My dentist told me that if I had waited just a little longer, the infection would have spread to my bone--a very dangerous situation. He couldn't believe or understand why I was unable to get care.
The airfare cost about $800. The root canal cost about $30. So, it was CHEAPER for me to fly for 17 hours over the Pacific to the other side of the planet, than to walk down the street to a dentist in my neighborhood in the US, to get a simple root canal.
Plus, I got to see my family and friends and enjoy good sushi as well. What a bargain ;)
Oh, and now that I LIVE in Japan and don't have to take a plane to see a dentist, I only have to pay $30. And, I can go to any dentist of my choice. Whenever I want.
Mina
Tokyo
Arizona
When I was in nursing school about 7 years ago, my tooth started hurting.
I had dental insurance, but when I called to make an appointment, not one dentist in the area would accept my insurance. They all said that my insurance "never paid" so they stopped accepting it.
After calling over 20 dentists, I finally gave up and got seen, self-pay. I was told that I needed to see a specialist to get a root canal. However, again, no one would take my insurance, and I could not afford the $1000 + that the procedure would cost. If I need a crown placed, I would have to pay much more.
The dentist told me that the only other option I had was to go to the Emergency Room where my tooth would be pulled.
I was in my 20s! I REFUSED to get my tooth pulled! All I needed was a root canal!
So what did I do?
I saved up my student loan money, waited for 4 months until Christmas break and flew back to Japan where my family lived--and where I still was covered under the National Health Insurance.
The morning after I arrived in Japan, I went to a dentist and got a root canal. Just like that. I think it cost me, mmm, like $30.
My tooth was in such bad shape--my face was swollen, I couldn't chew because my gums were so swollen that it lifted up my infected tooth, and I was in so much pain. My dentist told me that if I had waited just a little longer, the infection would have spread to my bone--a very dangerous situation. He couldn't believe or understand why I was unable to get care.
The airfare cost about $800. The root canal cost about $30. So, it was CHEAPER for me to fly for 17 hours over the Pacific to the other side of the planet, than to walk down the street to a dentist in my neighborhood in the US, to get a simple root canal.
Plus, I got to see my family and friends and enjoy good sushi as well. What a bargain ;)
Oh, and now that I LIVE in Japan and don't have to take a plane to see a dentist, I only have to pay $30. And, I can go to any dentist of my choice. Whenever I want.
Mina
Tokyo
Arizona
Saturday, March 14, 2009
I am thankful to live in a place with national single-payer health insurance
On Saturday I noticed that my husband's face looked strange - one side was droopy. Since he had been injured in a car accident at the end of the year and has been suffering from whiplash, we thought it was related.
He had lost feeling by Monday morning, so he went to the general practioner who serves as our family doctor at 9:30 a.m.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 15 minutes, cost out of pocket (30% of total) $11
The doctor told him to get to a general hospital immediately and wrote a letter of introduction.
I accompanied my husband to the osteopathic doctor who is treating him for the whiplash.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 25 minutes, cost out of pocket would have been $5.70 (cost was charged to insurance company of person who caused car accident.)
This doctor concurred with the other doctor and told my husband to go to the nearby university hospital.
The university hospital is a 5-minute drive from our home. The lobby was overflowing with people waiting for outpatient care. It was my husband's first visit to that hospital, so he had to register.
Wait time to register: 20 minutes
We were sent upstairs to the dermatology department. Here the wait was longer, about 40 minutes to see a nurse who took down the medical report. We were told that it would be quite a long wait to see the doctor. However, we overheard another nurse who had picked up a phone to say that there would be a patient for immediate admission and guessed that it was my husband. I left to handle matters at the business we run together.
My husband was seen by a doctor at 1:45 p.m. The doctor diagnosed facial paralysis (probably Bell's palsy) and ordered immediate admittance for treatment. When I returned at 2:30 p.m., my husband had completed paperwork for admission and was being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse to the dermatology ward.
Because he had requested a private room, he was asked to leave a deposit of $3000. This would not be necessary for a bed in the 6-8 person rooms. We have a private insurance policy which will cover the cost of the private room.
Because the treatment of facial paralysis involves the aggressive use of steriods which lower the immune system, my husband was told to expect a hospital stay of two to three weeks. He is on an IV drip 3 to 6 hours a day. He is not allowed out of the hospital ward because of the danger of infection from the lowered immunity.
In the meantime, he is being examined for underlying causes. A heart problem has been detected. At the moment he is being examined by four different departments at the hospital: the orthopedic department for the whiplash, the otolaryngology department for the facial paralysis, the cardiology department for the heart problem, and the internal medicine department for a weight problem. All test results and explanations are given by the doctor in the otolaryngology department whom he sees at least once a day. A nurse checks his vital signs several times a day. All his exams are scheduled ahead of time so he never waits more than 10 minutes for a test or consultation.
So far, tests include CTscan, MRI, full set of spine X-rays, several blood and urine tests, stress tests for heart, various ear and eye tests for causes of facial paralysis - just about every test possible for his condition. The main doctor usually disusses the results the same day as the exam.
We are on the national health insurance plan (kokumin kenko hoken) as a family. We pay the top rate for the premiums for our family of 5, approximately $6000 a year. We pay 30% of medical and prescription costs up to about $750 total in a month. Other than the cost for the private room, we will not pay more than approximately $750 plus a small charge for the hospital food for the calendar month. Also, we will be able to deduct medical costs over about $1500 from our total income for income tax purposes.
Of course, we have both checked medical information on the Internet in both Japanese and English about the various conditions and concerning the diagnoses and advice we have received so far. All information we have gathered matches up with the treatment my husband has received so far. My sister has also checked on information available in Thailand. The biggest difference in treatment that we can detect is that the US relies on oral medication more while most of Asia relies on IV drip to adminster medication. Also, as far as I can tell, my husband would be treated as an outpatient in the US (and with the exhorbitant cost of hospital care in the US, that would be preferable.)
However, we are very glad that my husband is hospitalized because the amount of running around and time that would be required if he were an outpatient (not to mention the risk of exposure to infection) would play havoc with my work schedule as well. As it is, my college-age son has come home to help out during spring break.
Right now, our biggest concern is my husband's condition. We wonder how his health condition will affect our work and our family. The one major concern we don't have right now is how we will pay for the excellent care we are receiving.
If, God fobid, my husband is unable to continue work and has to close the business, I can enroll him and the children on the insurance plan that I will be on from April when I take a full-time job as a university professor. I will be enrolled in the private university and school plan, which, of course, is tied to the other government schemes.
The biggest drawback that I can see to the various national health insurance schemes here is that, without a private plan to pay for a private room, my husband would be in the 6 to 8-person ward. Those wards do look crowded. Otherwise, the treatment for the patients is all the same.
At times like this, I am particularly thankful to live in a place where national single-payer health insurance is available. I hope that, sometime in the near future, all my fellow Americans too are able to have access to medical care.
M. P. O.
Japan
California
He had lost feeling by Monday morning, so he went to the general practioner who serves as our family doctor at 9:30 a.m.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 15 minutes, cost out of pocket (30% of total) $11
The doctor told him to get to a general hospital immediately and wrote a letter of introduction.
I accompanied my husband to the osteopathic doctor who is treating him for the whiplash.
No appointment necessary, waiting time 25 minutes, cost out of pocket would have been $5.70 (cost was charged to insurance company of person who caused car accident.)
This doctor concurred with the other doctor and told my husband to go to the nearby university hospital.
The university hospital is a 5-minute drive from our home. The lobby was overflowing with people waiting for outpatient care. It was my husband's first visit to that hospital, so he had to register.
Wait time to register: 20 minutes
We were sent upstairs to the dermatology department. Here the wait was longer, about 40 minutes to see a nurse who took down the medical report. We were told that it would be quite a long wait to see the doctor. However, we overheard another nurse who had picked up a phone to say that there would be a patient for immediate admission and guessed that it was my husband. I left to handle matters at the business we run together.
My husband was seen by a doctor at 1:45 p.m. The doctor diagnosed facial paralysis (probably Bell's palsy) and ordered immediate admittance for treatment. When I returned at 2:30 p.m., my husband had completed paperwork for admission and was being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse to the dermatology ward.
Because he had requested a private room, he was asked to leave a deposit of $3000. This would not be necessary for a bed in the 6-8 person rooms. We have a private insurance policy which will cover the cost of the private room.
Because the treatment of facial paralysis involves the aggressive use of steriods which lower the immune system, my husband was told to expect a hospital stay of two to three weeks. He is on an IV drip 3 to 6 hours a day. He is not allowed out of the hospital ward because of the danger of infection from the lowered immunity.
In the meantime, he is being examined for underlying causes. A heart problem has been detected. At the moment he is being examined by four different departments at the hospital: the orthopedic department for the whiplash, the otolaryngology department for the facial paralysis, the cardiology department for the heart problem, and the internal medicine department for a weight problem. All test results and explanations are given by the doctor in the otolaryngology department whom he sees at least once a day. A nurse checks his vital signs several times a day. All his exams are scheduled ahead of time so he never waits more than 10 minutes for a test or consultation.
So far, tests include CTscan, MRI, full set of spine X-rays, several blood and urine tests, stress tests for heart, various ear and eye tests for causes of facial paralysis - just about every test possible for his condition. The main doctor usually disusses the results the same day as the exam.
We are on the national health insurance plan (kokumin kenko hoken) as a family. We pay the top rate for the premiums for our family of 5, approximately $6000 a year. We pay 30% of medical and prescription costs up to about $750 total in a month. Other than the cost for the private room, we will not pay more than approximately $750 plus a small charge for the hospital food for the calendar month. Also, we will be able to deduct medical costs over about $1500 from our total income for income tax purposes.
Of course, we have both checked medical information on the Internet in both Japanese and English about the various conditions and concerning the diagnoses and advice we have received so far. All information we have gathered matches up with the treatment my husband has received so far. My sister has also checked on information available in Thailand. The biggest difference in treatment that we can detect is that the US relies on oral medication more while most of Asia relies on IV drip to adminster medication. Also, as far as I can tell, my husband would be treated as an outpatient in the US (and with the exhorbitant cost of hospital care in the US, that would be preferable.)
However, we are very glad that my husband is hospitalized because the amount of running around and time that would be required if he were an outpatient (not to mention the risk of exposure to infection) would play havoc with my work schedule as well. As it is, my college-age son has come home to help out during spring break.
Right now, our biggest concern is my husband's condition. We wonder how his health condition will affect our work and our family. The one major concern we don't have right now is how we will pay for the excellent care we are receiving.
If, God fobid, my husband is unable to continue work and has to close the business, I can enroll him and the children on the insurance plan that I will be on from April when I take a full-time job as a university professor. I will be enrolled in the private university and school plan, which, of course, is tied to the other government schemes.
The biggest drawback that I can see to the various national health insurance schemes here is that, without a private plan to pay for a private room, my husband would be in the 6 to 8-person ward. Those wards do look crowded. Otherwise, the treatment for the patients is all the same.
At times like this, I am particularly thankful to live in a place where national single-payer health insurance is available. I hope that, sometime in the near future, all my fellow Americans too are able to have access to medical care.
M. P. O.
Japan
California
It isn't perfect, but I recommend the Japanese system of health care
I have lived in Japan for nearly 20 years and have enjoyed the health system that they have for most people here. When I first started, it had a 10% deductible and that began changing about 10 years ago. It was increased to 20% and then to 30% and it has remained at this point for at least 5 years. As long it doesn't go above this, it should be OK. I believe that my Japanese Mother and Father-in-law have a 10% deductible.
This system works for most medical attention, including optometry as well as dentistry. It does not cover the cost of making glasses, and I have no experiences with dentures... However, it covers most medication that I have had to utilize.
Also something interesting is that some cities subsidize medication as well as doctor visits for children under certain ages. I know my daughter received certain vaccinations for free by the city of Sapporo. Also there are free checkups for children in Elementary schools which are contracted out to a physician who's practice is located near the school.
Hospitalization is also covered. I have had a couple of instances in which I needed tests to be run and was hospitalized. One time in a room with six other patients and another time in a private room. The private rooms in 2000 were only 8,000 yen a day (a little more than $80). Less than the price of a hotel room, so I opted for the private room rather than the six patient room. I do not know what the price was for that room, but the difference was so small than I could not fathom staying in the group room.
The good (or bad side) depending on how you look at it, is that here in Japan people go to many different doctors, perhaps a different one each time. I have always tried to pick my doctors and stay with them, however, many people do not do this. Up to now, this has probably allowed people to get multiple prescriptions for the same ailment unnecessarily. However, with the new electronic medical record system which will be mandatory soon here in Japan, this may be more easily controlled.
For the most part, I can say that the Japanese medical system has been very good. I hear other ex-pats here who claim that this is a very bad place to receive medical treatment. I agree that the Hygiene at some hospitals here in Japan is severely lacking. However, if one takes the time to carefully pick their hospitals and get referrals from medical care workers that they trust, then this system is quite a good one. I highly recommend the Japanese Medical System as long as it is properly managed "by the people, for the people".
I am not sure if this was of any help as I and my family are healthy for the most part, but I do endorse the Japanese model.
If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me.
Very Sincerely Yours,
Brian Dishman
Japan
This system works for most medical attention, including optometry as well as dentistry. It does not cover the cost of making glasses, and I have no experiences with dentures... However, it covers most medication that I have had to utilize.
Also something interesting is that some cities subsidize medication as well as doctor visits for children under certain ages. I know my daughter received certain vaccinations for free by the city of Sapporo. Also there are free checkups for children in Elementary schools which are contracted out to a physician who's practice is located near the school.
Hospitalization is also covered. I have had a couple of instances in which I needed tests to be run and was hospitalized. One time in a room with six other patients and another time in a private room. The private rooms in 2000 were only 8,000 yen a day (a little more than $80). Less than the price of a hotel room, so I opted for the private room rather than the six patient room. I do not know what the price was for that room, but the difference was so small than I could not fathom staying in the group room.
The good (or bad side) depending on how you look at it, is that here in Japan people go to many different doctors, perhaps a different one each time. I have always tried to pick my doctors and stay with them, however, many people do not do this. Up to now, this has probably allowed people to get multiple prescriptions for the same ailment unnecessarily. However, with the new electronic medical record system which will be mandatory soon here in Japan, this may be more easily controlled.
For the most part, I can say that the Japanese medical system has been very good. I hear other ex-pats here who claim that this is a very bad place to receive medical treatment. I agree that the Hygiene at some hospitals here in Japan is severely lacking. However, if one takes the time to carefully pick their hospitals and get referrals from medical care workers that they trust, then this system is quite a good one. I highly recommend the Japanese Medical System as long as it is properly managed "by the people, for the people".
I am not sure if this was of any help as I and my family are healthy for the most part, but I do endorse the Japanese model.
If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me.
Very Sincerely Yours,
Brian Dishman
Japan
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