Do I Need Travel Health Insurance for Japan?
It’s true that Japan has a world-renowned health care system – it ranks 5th in the world according to CEOWorld Magazine's Health Care Index. But as a visitor to Japan, you must pay for medical care in full at the time of treatment, or otherwise present irrefutable proof of your ability to pay.
And unless you have a long-term visa for Japan, you won’t qualify for Japanese National Health Insurance.
"How Much Do Medical Expenses Cost in Japan?"
Japan Health Info recommends that travelers without Japanese health insurance take ¥20,000 - ¥50,000 Japanese yen to a medical consultation at a hospital in Japan. That cost can be even higher for medical procedures. For example, the University of Tokyo Hospital lists the cost of medical procedures at ¥500,000 yen.
This is where travel medical insurance comes in. It can help mitigate your out-of-pocket costs for covered injuries or illnesses you incur as you travel Japan.
Consider These Emergency Scenarios:
1. You’re homesick and seek western-style food as a comfort, but you come down with a serious bout of food poisoning that requires medical attention.
With a travel medical insurance policy like Atlas Travel insurance, you’ll be covered for the cost of a local ambulance if your hospital visit results in you being admitted as a patient. You’ll also be covered for hospital room and board and eligible medical treatment resulting from covered injuries or illnesses.
Plus, Atlas Travel will provide you with access to provider referrals and translation services in multiple languages 365 days a year.
2. You’re exploring a tranquil Japanese onsen (hot spring) in the countryside when you slip, fall, and become seriously injured.
You’re taken to the local emergency medical facility, but the facility cannot provide you with the life-saving medical treatment you need.
You’re covered under your travel medical insurance policy’s Emergency Medical Evacuation benefit, which covers the cost of transporting you to a nearby hospital that’s properly equipped to treat you. Emergency medical evacuations like these can cost upwards of $100,000 according to the CDC.
Step 3: Choose Your Maximum Coverage Limit
Your plan may allow you to select your maximum coverage limit. This is the maximum amount of money your travel medical insurance policy will pay towards your eligible expenses. In some cases, it may apply “per injury or illness” or “per certificate period” (the amount of time your policy is effective).
Many policies offer maximum limits between $50,000 and $1,000,000 to eligible travelers, though some plans offer up to $2,000,000 in coverage. Depending on age and length of travel, the price difference between a lower coverage maximum and a higher coverage maximum may be minimal, so get a few different quotes before you purchase your plan.
NOTE: Travel medical insurance policies typically offer fewer coverage options to those age 65 and up, and individuals age 80 and up may be limited to a predetermined maximum coverage limit.
Step 4: Make Sure You’re Satisfied with Your Per-Benefit Coverage Limits
Remember those medical benefits you selected? Just like with your overall coverage limit, you want to review the per-benefit coverage.
For example, the CDC notes that an emergency medical evacuation can exceed $100,000. So you want to look for a policy that offers at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage.
Or consider a benefit like Trip Interruption that can cover the cost of transporting you back to your home country if you must end your trip early due to a covered reason. Look for a Trip Interruption benefit with a maximum limit high enough to cover your potential transportation costs from Japan back home.
You can find your benefit limits in the Schedule of Benefits and Limits for the plan. This is typically a chart located in the plan’s policy documents.
You’ll find that some benefits offer a lifetime maximum, a maximum amount per day, or a maximum amount per certificate period. Others might list specific conditions of coverage (i.e. “usual, reasonable, and customary charges”) or be subject to the overall maximum limit for the policy.
How To Buy Travel Health Insurance for Travel in Japan
To compare travel medical plans and get quotes online, know what benefits and coverage maximums you’re seeking.
It’s also important to read the policy documents for the plan you’re considering – especially the benefits and exclusions – before you buy. This is especially important for travelers to Japan who plan on engaging in snow sports or other recreational activities.
Don’t forget to compare providers, as well. A quality travel medical insurance provider will have a good company reputation, an easy-to-use website, and multilingual travel assistance services for policyholders.
Review the fine details once you’ve selected a plan that fits your needs and expectations.
Also take the following steps before you buy:
- Make sure trip dates, length of coverage, and destination are listed correctly.
- Ensure the appropriate number of travelers is listed and the cost is accurate.
- Review the deductibles you’ve selected.
- Double-check your coverage limits are adequate.
- Verify all travelers’ personal details are correct.
Travel Health Insurance for Travelers in Japan
Now that you know what benefits, coverage limits, and deductible options to look for – and how to compare policies and providers – you may be thinking, “Where do I even start?”
Let us help.
Atlas Travel is travel medical insurance designed for international travelers, including those heading abroad to Japan.
Atlas Travel is also a great option for snow sport-enthusiasts, as it offers coverage for recreational downhill and/or cross-country snow skiing and snowboarding.
Atlas Journey provides some emergency medical benefits like Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expense and Medical Evacuation & Repatriation of Remains as well.
It’s important to note that Atlas Journey plans are only available to U.S. citizens and residents traveling domestically and abroad, while Atlas Travel insurance is available to citizens and residents of most countries—but you must be traveling abroad. Also, Atlas Journey plans generally have higher premiums because they include Trip Cancellation coverage.
Do you want to know more about the difference between travel medical insurance and trip cancellation insurance? Read “Travel Insurance vs Travel Medical Insurance: Is There a Difference?"
