NEWS

Hello everyone!

We mentioned at the top of the list that one of the most difficult things for foreigners to deal with is hospital conditions.

This series is also long, but I think it is information you should know, so please bear with me.

5. Ask for an approximate amount of money you will have to pay for medical treatment.
By learning the approximate cost of treatment, you can eliminate the difference between what you think the cost will be and the actual cost, and eliminate any financial concerns you may have.

In Japan, it is common practice to proceed with tests and treatment according to the doctor's ideas and policies, and pay the medical fees presented at the end. If you are from a country where the premise is “medical care is part of the contract, and we will work it out until we are satisfied,” you may feel some resistance.

If you would like to know what kind of treatment will be performed and how much it will cost before deciding whether or not to undergo treatment, you can let them know that you wish to do so and they can give you an approximate amount in advance.

6. Fill out the medical questionnaire
The medical questionnaire is important to provide the doctor with detailed information about your medical condition so that he/she can make a more accurate diagnosis. It is especially difficult for people who are not yet proficient in Japanese to communicate their symptoms through dialogue, so please use the medical questionnaire to accurately convey your symptoms.

7. Receive a medical examination
Tell the doctor about your specific symptoms and other details that cannot be fully conveyed in the medical questionnaire. The doctor will perform necessary tests and procedures based on the information you have provided.

8. If a medical certificate is required, ask for one to be issued.
If a medical certificate is necessary for filing a claim with the insurance company at a later date, you will need to ask for one to be issued. Before requesting a medical certificate, confirm how much it will cost, how to pay, how to receive it, and what languages it can be issued in (some places only issue medical certificates in Japanese)

9. Payment of Medical Expenses and Issuance of Prescription
After the consultation is over, you will be given a piece of paper stating what kind of treatment was performed today, which you will submit to the accounting counter. The medical fee calculated based on this information will be presented to you, and you should pay it in the prescribed manner. Payment of money tends to cause trouble. Do not forget to get a receipt as proof of payment.

If medication is prescribed, a prescription will be issued. This is the end of the hospital visit.

Take the prescription to a pharmacy to receive the medication. You can go to any pharmacy in Japan, but you will be charged for the medication in addition to the consultation fee you paid at the hospital.

Summary of the medical examination process & what a foreigner needs to go to a hospital

When you go to a hospital in Japan,

Go to the hospital and provide basic information such as your name, address, and age, as well as the physical symptoms you wish to have checked.

Submit your ID and insurance card, and confirm that they are correct.

See a doctor.

Pay the fee based on the details of the examination and treatment you have received.

If medication is prescribed, receive the prescription and pick up the medication at the pharmacy.

This is the basic process.

In Japan, it is not customary to have the details of the medical examination and the amount to be charged indicated in advance, and to receive treatment only if the patient agrees to the details.


If you have any requests for medical care in Japan, please be proactive and tell them or confirm them each time you visit a hospital.

In addition, the following is a list of things you will need for going to the hospital. Please refer to the following list when preparing to go to a hospital.

What you need to bring with you to the hospital in Japan

Health insurance card (if you are covered by Japan's public medical insurance)

Identification card (passport or resident card, or if you do not have either, an identification card from your own country or other identification that confirms your name and face).

Cash or credit card. (Many hospitals do not accept credit card payments, so it is recommended that you bring cash.)

I will continue to tell you about this next week.

Please use this as a saved version for your home.

Please look forward to the next issue!


instagram

realestatejapan