Escape from the Hoken

[gaijinpunch]

Does anyone have any experience getting off of kokumin kenkou hoken with international insurance? I was assured (twice) at the Shibuya Kuyakusho that I just had to show proof of insurance from some date, with a list of my dependants covered, and I was golden. What I got, however, was more like a golden shower. Through various verbals fistings, I was referred to this page which states for Americans, we have to apply for some form through one of three sites: Social Security website, IRS website, or the Japanese embassy. Ass sphincter says what? I tried to explain many times what I had been told, that I had proof of insurance (call the company asshole?) but then I had a moment of satori and remembered what cuntry I was in, so shut up.

My company is offering this to me, but I've been here on this visa for over 5 years now, not as their employee... they have no branch here. Technically I switched cumpanies in January as our group broke off from the terrorists (right wing gun nuts) who we were partners with. I've been covered ever since under this new company.

I don't want to, but if push came to shove (no fucking way I'm paying insurance I don't use twice) I can always "leave" Japan I assume. I have PR... I assume there is a way to leave (say, being sent abroad for a 2 year stretch) and being removed from said insurance program. Just don't know the particulars, and I'm sure I'd get stuck for January through April's insurance coverage (boo). I asked the guy at the counter what people do in that situation and he replied, "Oh, you can always just apply to keep your Japanese insurance and not get any coverage overseas". My immediate thought was, "I"m going to have to talk to your supervisor" but again, enlightenment got the best of me and I just did a facepalm and said, "I really don't think so..." and went on.

Advice? Really dry humor?

[Coligny]

Go back to the counter with fake blood pouring out of your eyes, nose, mouth and ears... extra point if you put a white pant with mark like if you wuz also pissing and shitting some.

pretty sure they will take care of you with much moar attenshiun...

double combo if you also only mutter 'bbbrrrrraaainnnnnnn......'

[yanpa]

This is exactly how I imagine Coligny when he's in McDonalds stocking up on nuggets

[Coligny]

Wrong... I always wear black pants...

[gaijinpunch]

Yeah, I was about to say, "I'm going for brain surgery if you don't sort this out."

[GomiGirl]

I have never had it so haven't had to try to get off it.

But what happens if you just don't pay?

I have heard urban myths of guys living here forever with huge cumulated hoken bills that are just ignored. Obviously no claims are ever tried on and private insurance is the only one used for medical etc. But I have *heard* that there is no recourse - kinda like the NHK non-payment.

But then again, best check with somebody who knows what they are talking about as free internet advice and all that...

[legion]

they will loot your bank account for unpaid hoken eventually, just like any other unpaid tax

[gaijinpunch]

That is my guess.
I think my worst case scenario is I end my residence and come back as a temporarily 派遣'ed employee. Technically that's what I am and is far easier to just not get on rather than to get off (that's what she said). Still doesn't make it fun, and it's about the worst fucking timing you could imagine. I've been gone for 5 of the roughly 13 weeks we've had this year, and I'm about to leave again.

[legion]

I know somebody who was stung for a bunch of money for unpaid hoken, directly from his account, kind of out of the blue since his attitude to the bills was to file them in the gomi. They then sent him a huge bill for the rest which he managed to negotiate down a bit by paying it off in one chunk.

I see it as the down side of gaijin being eligible to be head of the household.

[gaijinpunch]

A lot of this is ignorance on the kuyakusho's part. They explained to my ex-better half whom I had go down there when I was out of town last time that, "not that many people enter and switch later". Guess that goes with the old lifetime employment.

[IparryU]

A few of my colleagues have been off kenko hoken for a decade now. It was a bitch to get off it back then and is even more so now.

I think the process consists of you saying you want to stop your kenko hoken, they suck their teeth and say you cant, then you end up talking to 5 people until it is done...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

"not that many people enter and switch later". Guess that goes with the old lifetime employment.

...Sounds like my marital life...

[gaijinpunch]

Haha, indeed.

In the interest of archiving, and to help other FG who are not Superman when it comes up to standing up to stupidity like I am:

What you need is a Certificate of Coverage which is issued by your country's governing body. If you' is the American, it's issued by the Social Security Administration. The Japanese word for this form is 適用証明書.

Info on said form can be found here. Actual form for Japan is here. Despite the fact that this is administered by the SSA, they only ask specifically if you'll have private health insurance. Not sure how this is going to play out as I'm technically a consultant and I handle all my taxes here locally. You'd think they'd be grateful as I'm pouring my whole salary into the J-economy.

It's nobody's fault but my own, but due to some family issues, I've been out of Japan for most of the year, so haven't been able to tackle this. If for some reason I can't get this form all sorted out, I'm looking at a 5-month hit where I paid for insurance two times... and made maybe $200 worth of claims.

Stay tuned for more teeth sucking and grunting!