Expatriate Insurance in Japan

Expatriate stationed in Japan should make sure they have an international medical insurance plan, international dental plan, and Life and Disability insurance that will perform if the claim occurs inside Japan.  Many U.S. expatriates are left under U.S. (or in the case of TCN employees, home country) life and LTD insurance plans that would not be able to honor claims once the expatriate had take up permanent residence abroad in Japan.

Local nationals in Japan have a government managed and required health insurance scheme.  Employees of private companies must be covered under a Gov't managed HI plan or a Society managed HI plan in Japan.  Unemployed and self employed persons can be covered by the National Health Insurance System.

Although expats should not want to participate in the Japanese national insurance scheme they are required to pay into the system.  Although double coverage will ensure, there is just no way around the fact that an international health insurance plan is needed for expatriates in Japan.  

Expatraites will spend quite a bit of time out of Japan, and the Japanese system can do little or nothing in the U.S. or in EU hosptials.  What's more, if the expat becomes gravely ill, he or she will want to return home to seek care and not be "stuck" in Japan for years getting treatment in the Japanese system.