Health Insurance?

[waruta]

Just got hired by a company here that offers private health insurance coverage. I'm eligible for the gov't insurance but they don't offer dental (and as to what I know no one else does either) and I have to pay 30% of the total fee. Is there a gaijin-friendly insurance company that covers everything for a nominal fee? I see the Vida Vida as in the Japan Times but I have not heard anything good about them...Any advice?

Thanks.

[Behan]

Government insurance pays dental, except for cosmetic things like braces. Both Shakai Hoken and Kokumin Kenko Hoken provide dental.
If your company told you that you don't get dental coverage from the government plans, they were lying.
If you are employed at a company with something like more than five employees you are supposed to be enrolled in Shakai Hoken, no questions asked. But there's a long list of shady companies, at least in the eikaiwa sweatshop world, that break the law and don't enroll their employees.

If you opt for national insurance , a lot of these sleazy companies will try to get you go into Kokumin Kenko Hoken because with Shakai Hoken yuo have to be enrolled in both health insurance and pension. The company has to make half of the pension payments and this is why so many weasely scumbag, on a tokkyu- to- hell companies (like Nova, Interac, etc.) will lie and scheme to keep you out.

Sorry to rant away like that, been a victim of these kinds of scumbags several times.

Anyway, welcome to FG and good luck with whatever you do.

[GomiGirl]

Try Global Health

[Samurai_Jerk]

Try Global Health

Don't try. They're fucking shit. I was enrolled for about half a year. They fucked up my billing by not billing for months and then suddenly maxing out my credit card by billing me for several months at once. When I called to comlplain they said it wouldn't happen again, but then they did the exact same thing the next month, so I canceled the service. Then they rejected a claim and when I tried to get further information after that they just ignored me and I never heard from them again.

By the way, what country are you from?

[waruta]

Thanks to Behan, GomiGirl and Samurai Jerk for the replies.

Behan: A foreign company is going to hire me here and they have offered to pay for any private insurance. I have looked into the kokumin hoken but would have to pay back fees for the last two years totaling around 20 man. And the fact that they only cover 70% and no pre-dental care/cosmetic ( aka braces, ceramic fillings etc...)
Don't have to be enrolled in the pension, and giving the way its going, I don't think it will be much help when I'm 60. I've been here a while but usually I was enrolled in a Dutch Health Insurance plan but that ran out while I was abroad, and now I'm above the age to be covered by it. So in a nutshell, I am looking for a company/insurance giant that covers all from a toothache to major heart surgery.....

p.s. thanks for the welcome.

Samurai Jerk: I'm half Taiwanese and Dutch. So you could consider me Eurasian? Ha.

[GomiGirl]

Don't try. They're fucking shit. I was enrolled for about half a year. They fucked up my billing by not billing for months and then suddenly maxing out my credit card by billing me for several months at once. When I called to comlplain they said it wouldn't happen again, but then they did the exact same thing the next month, so I canceled the service. Then they rejected a claim and when I tried to get further information after that they just ignored me and I never heard from them again.

I haven't had a minute of problem with them but then I use the following company William Russell as the agent. I had a big claim about 2 years ago and they paid it no problems and in 7 days.

This covers me for travel insurance and for "extreme sports" as I like to go snow-skiing. This covers broken equipment too. Slight increase in premium but I just pay it monthly from my credit card.

[Greji]

This covers broken equipment too.

Have you informed the new fiance about this broken equipment? Does it hurt when you hoop?

Just curious....

[Behan]

...

Behan: A foreign company is going to hire me here and they have offered to pay for any private insurance. I have looked into the kokumin hoken but would have to pay back fees for the last two years totaling around 20 man. And the fact that they only cover 70% and no pre-dental care/cosmetic ( aka braces, ceramic fillings etc...)
Don't have to be enrolled in the pension, and giving the way its going, I don't think it will be much help when I'm 60. I've been here a while but usually I was enrolled in a Dutch Health Insurance plan but that ran out while I was abroad, and now I'm above the age to be covered by it. So in a nutshell, I am looking for a company/insurance giant that covers all from a toothache to major heart surgery.....

p.s. thanks for the welcome.

Samurai Jerk: I'm half Taiwanese and Dutch. So you could consider me Eurasian? Ha.

You are welcome.

I would guess that even foreign companies based in Japan are supposed to enroll their employees employees in Shakai Hoken. But if you don't want to enroll, I hope you can go with whatever plan you want to.

Companies I have dealt with neglected to mention even the existence of Shakai Hoken. Did your company mention it to you, or just Kokumin Kenko Hoken? If you do get on Shakai Hoken you have to be on the pension plan, too.

Good luck with everything and please let me/us know what happens. Actually, I am curious as to what's out there, too.

[pheyton]

I loved my Shakai Hoken when I was in Japan. I had a lot of dental work done for next to nothing. A few fillings and a bridge. The bridge came out to a little over $100 for the entire process.

I'm not sure about surguries and such in Japan, but in America they just say it was a pre-existing condition and refuse to pay for it or flat out kick you off the insurance.

[Iraira]

I loved my Shakai Hoken when I was in Japan. I had a lot of dental work done for next to nothing. A few fillings and a bridge. The bridge came out to a little over $100 for the entire process.

I'm not sure about surguries and such in Japan, but in America they just say it was a pre-existing condition and refuse to pay for it or flat out kick you off the insurance.

Yeah, got a lovely filling two months ago, plus a nice glossy Matrix-like 3-D X-ray of my jaw, which adorns my computer at work....and some pain killers which didn't really work as I hoped they would all for the incredibly low price of 4200 yen. Nurse was relatively cute, had decent breath, and no hairy knuckles (that or the laytex gloves were super strong)...didn't ask if she'd check my prostate, in case you WERE wondering.

[wuchan]

I loved my Shakai Hoken when I was in Japan. I had a lot of dental work done for next to nothing. A few fillings and a bridge. The bridge came out to a little over $100 for the entire process.

I'm not sure about surguries and such in Japan, but in America they just say it was a pre-existing condition and refuse to pay for it or flat out kick you off the insurance.

BRIDGE?????????????? WTF?????

These days if you have good healthcare in the US you get dental implants. As far as "pre-existing" they have to be able to prove it. If you never were treated and had the same insurer for over a year they can't prove shit. Always fight, if their legal department doesn't get involved the insurance company will eventually cave. The insurance companies in the US will whine and squeal no matter what but it's normal. They want you to give up first but without their own legal department backing their, not your, claims you are in the clear.

<- HMOblue NE w/international coverage. They patch me up here and ship me back for the real work. In the past five years I have had reconstructive knee surgery, surgery on broken ribs, broke five bones, my wife was 100% covered for pre/ post maternity including birth and epidural, and pre/post natal care for my kid. They even pay for the plane tickets. Co-pay is very low and free for doctors outside the US. Costs my employer shitloads but I made sure it was in my contract.

[Charles]

<- HMOblue NE w/international coverage. They patch me up here and ship me back for the real work. In the past five years I have had reconstructive knee surgery, surgery on broken ribs, broke five bones..

What the hell do you do for a living, work as a crash test dummy?

[Iraira]

In the past five years I have had reconstructive knee surgery, surgery on broken ribs, broke five bones

You seriously need to consider getting a new hobby.

[wuchan]

You seriously need to consider getting a new hobby.

But jumping off ten foot high things and landing on my face is fun..... well, when I don't land on my face.

[TennoChinko]

Try Global Health

I haven't had a minute of problem with them but then I use the following company William Russell as the agent. I had a big claim about 2 years ago and they paid it no problems and in 7 days.

This covers me for travel insurance and for "extreme sports" as I like to go snow-skiing. This covers broken equipment too. Slight increase in premium but I just pay it monthly from my credit card.

GomiGirl,

The two insurance products:

1. "Global Health" http://www.globalhealth.jp
2. "Global Health" http://www.global-health.co.uk

are two completely different companies (!)

The former is based in NZ and a search on the Internet boards indicates some customer service issues as Samurai_Jerk mentioned.

The latter is the one you are using (happily - as you indicated) and is a product provided by a subsidiary of Allianz called Hauteville.

[canman]

My two cents on this. Get into the national health insurance plan if you can, but don't join the pension plan. I know some people may disagree, but I really think a private pension plan is better. When I first came to Japan, with Geos, I was enrolled into a private accident insurance plan, not knowing any better. It worked out ok, but there were problems visiting some hospitals as they would ask for my insurance and I would have to say I had none, and then they would question me if I could pay up front. Then sometimes to get the insurance companies form filled out by the doctor there was a charge, up to Y5000. When I left the company and tried to join the national insurance plan, I was told I should have joined when I first came to Japan, and that to join I would have to pay a penalty of Y400 000. To which I told them to f#ck off and with the advice of Gomigirl, I joined global health. I used it for a few years, and had no problems. Even got a free plane ticket home when my dad had a heart attack. But after 9/11 it got harder and harder to do the reimbursements via credit cards, and I didn't like the hassle of paying up front and getting the money later. Plus I was able to circumvent the Y400 000 and was able to join the national insurance program. Anyway god luck with your decision.

[GomiGirl]

GomiGirl,

The two insurance products:

1. "Global Health" http://www.globalhealth.jp
2. "Global Health" http://www.global-health.co.uk

are two completely different companies (!)

The former is based in NZ and a search on the Internet boards indicates some customer service issues as Samurai_Jerk mentioned.

The latter is the one you are using (happily - as you indicated) and is a product provided by a subsidiary of Allianz called Hauteville.

Actually I checked my cards etc. I am with William Russell. Have nothing but good things to say about them. Sorry for the confusion - there seems to be Global Health products with lots of companies.