About Japan's medical system
Visiting a hospital in Japan
About Japan's medical system
In Japan, there is a "public medical insurance system" that all citizens are required to join, so if you are sick or injured, you can present your insurance card to receive medical examination, treatment, and prescriptions.
Therefore, it is a "free-access" system that allows you to receive medical care freely at any medical institution.
In order to achieve this, Japan's health insurance system is designed so that citizens can contribute to each other's insurance premiums and receive medical care at the lowest possible cost when they are sick or injured.
There are two types of medical insurance as described below.
- Health insurance for people who work in a workplace (collectively referred to as employee's health insurance.)
- National health insurance for self-employed people and other local residents.
In addition, those who are 75 years old or older, and those who are 65 years old or older with certain lifelong conditions who have been certified by the Association of Medical Care Services for Older Senior Citizens, receive medical benefits under the Medical Care System for Older Senior Citizens.
As a general rule, all people living in Japan must enroll in one of these insurance plans or systems and cannot withdraw from them at their own will.
However, this does not apply to foreign tourists.
If you suddenly need to receive medical treatment in Japan during your trip, it is recommended that you purchase medical insurance for foreign visitors to Japan in order to reduce the burden of medical expenses.
Fees for treatment of patients’ choice
Currently in Japan, in order to promote the “functional division of medical institutions”, you are required to pay a “fee for treatment of patients’ choice” in addition to the treatment fee if you receive a first medical examination at a hospital with more than 200 beds without a referral from another medical institution. In Takayama City, you will be charged this fee if you visit Takayama Red Cross Hospital or Kosei Kumiai Hospital.
If you are transported by ambulance, you do not need to pay the fee for treatment of patients’ choice.
Medical fees
The fees paid to medical institutions for medical treatment are called “medical fees”, and they are calculated by adding up the number of points for each medical treatment as determined by the government.
There are various medical staff working in medical institutions, including doctors and nurses. In addition to the personnel costs of these staff, the costs of purchasing pharmaceuticals and medical materials, medical equipment and supplies, and the costs of maintaining and managing facilities are mainly covered by these medical fees.
If you are not a member of Japan's public medical insurance system (e.g., a foreign visitor to Japan), you will be responsible for the entire cost of your medical treatment, as it will not be covered by your medical insurance.