Any Emergency Medical Insurance in Japan for Gaijins

[alicia454]

Now that I am back again in Japan, my emergency medical insurance is about to expire. Any suggestions on any type of emergency medical insurance I can get here for a few months?

I am in reasonable good health and fitness, and only need emergency medical insurance in case of accident or any other unforeseen illness. Even though I live and work in Japan, and have a 3 year work visa until late 2010, since I am working for a new Japanese company, it will be a few months before I can join the Japanese public health insurance system, so I need emergency coverage until then.

Is there anything like a Japanese BlueCross, that will insure healthy Gaijin's that are residents of Japan?

Thank you in advance.

[omae mona]

I am in reasonable good health and fitness, and only need emergency medical insurance in case of accident or any other unforeseen illness. Even though I live and work in Japan, and have a 3 year work visa until late 2010, since I am working for a new Japanese company, it will be a few months before I can join the Japanese public health insurance system, so I need emergency coverage until then.

Is there anything like a Japanese BlueCross, that will insure healthy Gaijin's that are residents of Japan?

Alicia - I believe that as a legal resident, you are entitled to enroll in "kokumin hoken". Remember that there are two public health insurance schemes in Japan. Once your company gets their act together, they'll want to switch you to "shakai hoken". But in the meantime, I think anybody not on shakai hoken is not just able, but also *required* to enroll in kokumin hoken. This is something you can do personally, at your local government office, without any intervention from your company.

I apologize that I don't have more detailed information, but your local ward office should definitely be able to give you all the details.