Q1. Can you briefly explain me know the first time process from check-in to check out from your hospital?

From what I understand, the first time involved registering for a hospital membership, and being referring to the correct department. This involves filling out a few different forms and talking to receptionists, who usually don’t speak English. Following this first-time, the check-in process at NCNP is electronic, so I need to insert my hospital membership card and then go to the relevant area of the hospital.

Q2. Your medical condition and which medical department did you visit?

My medical condition is Multiple sclerosis and I visited the neurological department of NCNP, which has specialist doctors for this condition.

Q3. Did you have any lab or imaging tests? If yes, can you let us know the type of tests you had and how the flows were at your hospital.

I had an MRI scan and a few other tests. The flow was the same as before (electronic check-in and then proceeding to the MRI area). These are fairly challenging to do on my own even with limited Japanese. With an interpreter I was able to understand which really helped the first time.

Q4. Did you have any prescription issued at the hospital? If so, did you receive it at the pharmacy in the hospital or outside pharmacy?

Yes I did, but I received it at an outside pharmacy.

Q5. What was your impression about the medical staff at your hospital? Both positive and negative comments are appreciated.

Medical staff are generally kind and patient with non-fluent Japanese speakers, but they do have certain medical vocabulary they need to use as part of hospital policy. Consent is crucial when dealing with medical issues so when there are communication issues it slows things down considerably. As a result I find that often I’m agreeing to things I don’t fully understand without having an interpreter.

Q6. You speak Japanese. What would have been the challenging parts if you did not use an interpreter service?

Even with my conversational level of Japanese, complicated and specific medical vocabulary is very challenging. The forms are often confusing and have lots of opportunities to make mistakes. In addition, the fact that my interpreter had a lot of expertise dealing with the hospital helped me to save a lot of time, and helped with the hospital staff.

Q7. Did you need to apply for subsidy? If yes, can you share your experience what the challenging parts (e.g. understanding the required paperwork) when you applied for it and how JHI helped with it?

There is a lot of paperwork and JHI helped me to understand the relevant paperwork, such as what I need to keep and what I can throw away. I often ask JHI for help filling out the application paperwork on time, as the Japanese town halls can move slow and need a lot of time to process applications. In addition if there are any hiccups, JHI is able to advise and help with phone calls or other applications. When trying to do it alone, I’ve made mistakes in the past with not keeping important documents and the experience and expertise of JHI has really helped me.

The post Hospital Interpretation Service Feedback appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.

1.What is your medical condition?
Ulcerative Colitis

2. How did you find your medical condition is eligible for applying for the Japanese government subsidy?
I had seen some discussion from IBD patients online when searching the Internet but it was a little unclear and seemed complex, so I reached out to Japan Healthcare Info to ask if it was eligible and they explained everything in much clearer terms and detail.

3.What were the challenging things in terms of applying for the subsidy if you were to do that yourself?
Everything is in Japanese so it’s hard to fully understand the requirements unless you have excellent Japanese already. There are also many conditions that are required to be met to be eligible or variable circumstances you need to be aware of that I wouldn’t have known of before applying. Additionally, the application process is complicated and failure to provide the information may mean there is a lot of back and forth, or rejection in some cases. Japan Health Info made me aware of the different methods of applying beforehand and saved me a lot of time in the long run by opting to apply using the correct path, rather than the one I was intending to originally.

4. The list of the things that JHI helped to apply for your subsidy.
– Translation
– Eligibility and what you need to successfully apply
– Things to watch out for and assistance in applying via the most efficient method possible

5. How long did it take for your subsidy to be approved?
2 – 3 months

6. How much money were you able to save with the subsidy?
I was refunded a large amount of previously paid medical expenses since the application date (300k yen), and going forward I will save 50,000 yen per month approximately or more! Very happy with the outcome!

7. Your overall feedback for JHI services

It’s an excellent service! To anyone considering applying for the subsidy, I highly recommend JHI. It would have been highly stressful having to complete the application process myself, and I certainly would have made mistakes or taken the wrong application path costing me more money and time. The process was much easier and very affordable. I’m extremely glad to no longer be paying such huge amounts of money for essential medicine needed for my condition. I will be using JHI again for my subsidy renewals in future too.

The post Medical Subsidy Feedback appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.

Feel free to contact us for arrangement.

We received a positive feedback from our client who used the online pill prescription service.

The post Online Consultation for Oral Contraceptive Pills appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.

Dental Insurance Coverage in Japan

Dental treatments in Japan are known for their broad coverage under the national health insurance system, even when compared to other countries. In many countries, dental treatments are often considered private services and are not covered by public health insurance. However, in Japan, many essential dental treatments are covered, reducing the financial burden on patients. This article explains the scope of dental insurance coverage in Japan and the treatments that are excluded from coverage.

Dental Treatments Covered by Insurance

In Japan, treatments that are considered medically necessary for disease or injury are generally covered by public health insurance. The following dental treatments are typically covered:

• Cavity Treatment
  Cavity treatments, including fillings (inlays) and crowns, are covered under insurance depending on the severity of the cavity. However, the materials that can be used are limited (details below).
  
• Periodontal Disease Treatment
  Treatments for gum disease, such as tartar removal, inflammation control, and teeth cleaning, are covered by insurance.
  
• Wisdom Tooth Extraction
  Extraction of wisdom teeth is covered if the tooth is causing pain or affecting the alignment of other teeth.
  
• Dentures and Adjustments
  The creation and adjustment of partial and full dentures are covered by insurance. However, certain materials and designs may not be covered and could require out-of-pocket payment.
  
• Mouthguards for Teeth Grinding and TMJ Disorder
  Mouthguards for teeth grinding (bruxism) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder are covered by insurance. However, mouthguards for sports or sleep apnea are not covered.
  

Dental Treatments Not Covered by Insurance

On the other hand, treatments that are considered cosmetic or advanced procedures are not covered by public health insurance. The following treatments typically require full out-of-pocket payment:

• Teeth Whitening
  Whitening treatments to improve the color of teeth are considered cosmetic and are not covered by insurance.
  
• Orthodontics
  Orthodontic treatments to straighten teeth are generally not covered by insurance unless they are necessary to correct severe misalignment that affects chewing or speaking.
  
• Dental Implants
  Implants to replace missing teeth are not covered by insurance and are treated as private procedures.
  

Limitations on Crown and Filling Materials

There are also restrictions on the materials that can be used for crowns and fillings under public insurance.

• Materials Covered by Insurance:
  
  • Gold-silver-palladium alloy
  • Composite resin (plastic-based materials)

• Materials Not Covered by Insurance:
  
  • Ceramic
  • Zirconia
• 

If a patient prefers ceramic or zirconia for aesthetic reasons, the treatment will be classified as private and require full payment.

Comparison with Other Countries

In Japan, most essential dental treatments such as cavity treatment, gum disease treatment, and wisdom tooth extraction are covered by insurance. In contrast, in many Western countries like the United States and parts of Europe, dental care is typically not covered under public health insurance. Even basic treatments like cavity fillings or tooth extractions often require private dental insurance or full out-of-pocket payment. Japan’s national health insurance system provides significant financial relief for dental care, making it one of the more accessible systems worldwide.

Conclusion

Japan’s national health insurance system offers extensive coverage for dental treatments, including essential procedures and treatments like root canal therapy (nerve treatment) and oral cancer treatment are also covered by insurance, making Japan’s dental care system highly accessible and affordable.

Even for treatments not covered by insurance, such as cosmetic procedures or implants, the costs in Japan are often significantly lower than those in developed countries while maintaining high standards of quality. Japanese dental care is always ready to support you, ensuring you receive safe and comfortable treatment. We hope you enjoy a pleasant and worry-free life in Japan with the assurance of high-quality dental care.

If you would like more detailed information or need an individual consultation, Japan Dental Navi offers free online consultations.Please feel free to reach out.

Japan Dental Navi

https://www.japandentalnavi.com

The post Dental services are covered by Japanese insurance? Ask an Expert! appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.

Dr. Yoshiaki Nagumo, MD, PhD established NAG Orthopaedic Clinic in 2023 in Shirokane, Tokyo.

Dr. Nagumo originally started his career as a bone and soft tissue tumor specialist. After several years of clinical activity, he moved to the US (The University of Iowa) in 2018 for a few years to research regenerative medicine. 

He also played several sports. However, while in the US he suffered from knee injury and therefore keenly appreciated the importance of sports medicine.

 After coming back to Japan, he changed his medical specialty to a sports doctor, and treats many athletes based on his own personal experience. 

Do we really need an X-ray?

An X-ray is one of the most common examinations in orthopedics. It is useful to see joint alignment and bone deformities. However, especially in big hospitals, a lot of orthopedists take it even when it may be apparently unnecessary (actually, when I visited the sports clinic in the US, an X-ray was applied before even seeing the orthopedist). 

An X-ray is a common examination in orthopedic medicine, but its usage is limited to fractures, osteoarthritis and congenital bone deformity. Other symptoms such as neck and back pain/stiffness, joint motion restriction and sprains should be examined first by ultrasound, simply because we can’t see anything relating to soft tissue with an X-ray. 

In my clinic, we perform the ultrasound scan first. If further examination is required, we order an MRI to a testing center and you can take it within a few days in general. Through this procedure, our patient can get a clear diagnosis quickly and move on to the appropriate treatment. 

Dr. Nagumo’s clinic can offer a wide variety of orthopedic and also primary surgery treatments for children to adults. Japanese Health Insurance is accepted. The clinic is open on Saturdays and evenings (16:00-18:00) on weekdays. 

Please contact JHI for appointment arrangements. 

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Japan Healthcare Info (JHI) is a wonderful service! My family and I recently moved from Canada
and we discovered this service online while Googling away for all the help we could get with
integrating here in Japan. Our son was about 15 months old at the time, and we were exploring
daycare options online when we learnt that JHI could also assist with filing and prepping for his
entry into the Japanese daycare system.

For those of you with families, or little ones on the way, you may have already heard how
notoriously difficult it is to get your child placed into the public daycare system. Indeed, despite
Japan’s low birthrate, Tokyo in particular seems to have babies everywhere! It’s great to see all
the mommies and daddies cycling around with an occupied child-seat at each end of the bicycle
or strapped into a baby carrier. I’m totally impressed by all the parents going about their day
while juggling their little ones. However, all this remarkable baby management is also a
reflection of the fact that there is not enough supply in childcare services to meet the demand.
Apparently, the government is working on it, and many more daycares are on the way, but this
also implies that placement is hard to come by and can be quite expensive. We had our little
one in a private daycare for the first 6 months, and the full-time monthly fee was actually
comparable to our rent! Why many couples we know decide to keep one parent at home to
provide childcare, especially if there is more than one child.

Enter the JHI. We quickly received a response to our request for assistance and have felt
supported ever since! Navigating all the government bureaucracy is certainly a skill. It truly is
another language. My wife is Japanese, and she can speak and read the language quite well in
most cases, but this paperwork is a different beast altogether. Indeed, the number of rejected
applicants is quite indicative of this. It’s not a Japanese language issue, as much as it is a
governmental language issue, and thankfully the JHI has the skill and experience to get you
through it!

I can happily announce that our little one has since been enrolled into the public daycare
system, and I have absolutely no doubt it was thanks to Sara and the JHI. The assistance saved
us considerable stress and the new daycare is saving us a great deal of money. I would very
highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for help in breaking through into the Japanese
public daycare system.

Sincerely,
Marc-Antoni
Meguro-ku, Tokyo

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A  lot more detailed information and subsidy users voices included. If you or you know someone who has a chronic condition and needs financial assistance, this page will be of your help.

Medical Subsidies

The post Medical Subsidies page appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.

The new system is more flexible and affordable. Please inquire us if you have any questions.

The post New Service Systems appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.

Home Test 

Some areas in Japan do not have English-friendly clinics for testing purposes so it has been really difficult to provide information where to get tested. We hope providing home testing kits can help.

The post Home test kit appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.

JHI assisted George locate a specialist hospital and informed subsidiary available for his condition. Your condition may be able to receive government subsidiary. Please contact us for further information.

#4 George’s story (Hepatitis C support)

The post New members story appeared first on Japan Healthcare Info.