Types of health insurance

There is no free medical service in Japan—everyone is required to have health insurance. If you are directly employed by RIKEN, you will automatically be enrolled in the Science and Technology Health Insurance Society (STHIS), and the payments will be deducted from your salary (see here). If you have an employment contract with another employer, they may arrange your health insurance. If you are staying in Japan for more than a year but do not get health insurance from your employer, you should join the national health insurance system at your city office. When you join, it becomes effective immediately, and you cannot withdraw unless you leave Japan or join another health insurance program. Premiums are paid eight times a year and depend on your income.

If you are staying for less than a year, you should get travel insurance in your home country. If you did not arrange this before coming to Japan, ask the Welfare Section to help you arrange coverage.

Students who belong to universities in Japan may be able to get student health insurance from their universities. This is sometimes included in the university’s enrollment fee. If you have student health insurance, you do not need national health insurance.

What your insurance covers

In the simplest cases, Japanese health insurance covers 70% of the cost of treatment. You have to pay the remaining 30% yourself. This is the same for dental treatment. If you have dependents who are covered by your health insurance, they also pay 30% of the total cost of treatment, and for infants up to age two the proportion is 20%. People over 70 years old may pay less depending on their incomes. If you have paid more than a certain amount in a month, further reimbursements are available. If you need long-term or high-cost medical treatment, the insurance covers larger amounts. Pregnancy and childbirth are not covered by insurance, a childbirth subsidy is paid after the mother gives birth.

STHIS insurance covers healthcare in foreign countries, though you will have to pay up front yourself and get a refund later. For more detailed information, see the section on Health + Dental Insurance.