Japan probes foreigners' medical insurance over misuse concerns

There is no mention of long term forign residents, like retired people

From March 2023 to February 2024, 980.3 billion yen was reimbursed to those who exceeded their monthly cap of medical costs, of which 11.8 billion yen went to foreigners, or 1.21 percent of the total.

A health ministry official said the amounts "cannot be said to be high when compared to the proportion of foreigners enrolled."

Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the minor opposition Democratic Party for the People, has wrote on social media that "people staying for just 90 days can get high-cost medical benefits worth tens of millions of yen. It should be reviewed to make its application stricter."

No apparent problem now, but it could easily develop into one.

It’s good the government is looking to implement preventative measures.

JGovt just keep blaming to foreigners without mentioning that foreigners also pay insurance, tax and even mandatory pension scheme.

When applying for a residence visa make the applicant take a health check then problem solved.

Yep! It’s a pretty easy fix. Just make it available to foreigners who have lived in Japan for more than three months. Problem solved!

If I remember correctly, the model/talent "Rola" whose Pakistani father was charged with cheating the medical system. They were coming to Japan for medical treatment even though they were not living here.

But trying to paint all foreigners as cheating the system, is typical right wing scare mongering, and I am really disappointed in Tamaki for even mentioning this. It is something I would think the anti-NHK party would talk about!

We are retired but we still pay a health insurance charge and a future care charge. We do get good health care for our money.

Make only emergency treatments during the first 90 days.

The Japanese, which is 97% of the population in Japan ( only 3% foreigners) totally misuse the system constantly. Many of them go to the dentists every 3 months, per doctors suggestion. Many of the elderly go to the hospital to have a warm place to go in winter & can meet their friends & chat all morning in the waiting room. Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine for up to 60 days, meaning if you have a chronic disease, you have to visit the doctor at least 6 times a year. The whole system needs to be reviewed, not just the gaijin.

There is no mention of long term forign residents, like retired people

And why would it need to be specified?

Again targeting foreigners without any reason just for electoral purposes.

As said above, we are only 3%, do they think that the rest of population is perfectly clean?

Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine for up to 60 days, meaning if you have a chronic disease, you have to visit the doctor at least 6 times a year.

In my post-cancer treatment, I visit my hospital every three months for tests and collect a three-month prescription for my medicines.

Many of them go to the dentists every 3 months

You don’t go to the dentist every three months? Ewww.

Again targeting foreigners without any reason just for electoral purposes.

Exactly!

Many countries with forms of universal healthcare also have problems with medical tourists. There should be a system and in some cities, there are systems allowing foreigners to come for medical treatments.

wallace

get well buddy.cancer is bad but...

stay strong.

Politicians are using the global trump card. And that is, blame the foreigners. Korean politicians' trump card has always been, whenever they need to default blame, look at what Japan did a hundred years ago. Donald Trump's trump card, look at immigrants and a wall. And this case is similar or the same all together; a trump card.

I mean, if foreigners are already registered in the system and paying the premiums, which by the way are not cheap, don't they get to use it like everyone else?

However, politicians have expressed concerns that the system could be misused as foreigners may try to come to Japan to receive expensive medical treatment at lower out-of-pocket money.

Go through the whole process of getting a work or any other type of visa approved, moving to Japan and getting into the system for at least three months. Yeah, this must be such a big concern...

The amount of money and time these government surveys cost exceed the few taking advantage. Spend millions to save thousands.

jinjapanToday  07:50 am JST

The Japanese, which is 97% of the population in Japan ( only 3% foreigners) totally misuse the system constantly. Many of them go to the dentists every 3 months, per doctors suggestion. Many of the elderly go to the hospital to have a warm place to go in winter & can meet their friends & chat all morning in the waiting room. Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine for up to 60 days, meaning if you have a chronic disease, you have to visit the doctor at least 6 times a year. The whole system needs to be reviewed, not just the gaijin.

I imagine a lot of the doctors would prefer if everything stays just the way it is. They often own their clinics themselves or work at private hospitals, so they're also thinking about where the income and profits are coming from. People visiting the dentist's every three months, old people coming in for a chat and people with chronic illnesses having to renew their prescriptions constantly are all good for business. What's good for doctors' business is also good for the government because - guess what - the Japan Medical Association that most doctors join is a big supporter of the LDP. I wouldn't expect any changes any time soon.

1.21% of the total, yet foreigners make up more than 1.21% of the population.

Can someone help me understand the actual issue here?

The authorities used to look the other way for the shorter term foreigners like English conversation teachers here for a couple of years, who would get private health insurance instead. Maybe they should go back to that arrangement if they’re so scared that gaijin are supposedly ripping them off.

In the fiscal year through March 2024, around 970,000 foreign nationals were enrolled in the National Health Insurance program, representing 4 percent of the total, according to the ministry.

Where are the other 2 million foreigners in Japan?

From March 2023 to February 2024, 980.3 billion yen was reimbursed to those who exceeded their monthly cap of medical costs, of which 11.8 billion yen went to foreigners, or 1.21 percent of the total.

So 968.5 billion went to nationals. ¥7625 per capita. For the nearly one million foreigners per capita is ¥11,800.

"people staying for just 90 days can get high-cost medical benefits worth tens of millions of yen. It should be reviewed to make its application stricter."

This makes no sense at all to me.

In order for a foreigner in Japan to apply for Kokuminhoken they must visit their municipal hall and present the following:

-Zairyu card ....How can you get one if your stay is 90 days?

-Passport

-My Number Card.......How can you get one if your stay is 90 days?

-Hanko

-Proof of stay over 3 months.......THIS!

Seems to me the application requirements are already strict enough to prevent exactly what this article is talking about.

I would say that this Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the minor opposition Democratic Party for the People, has no idea of what he is talking about and just tossing anti-foreigner sentiment.

"" However, politicians have expressed concerns that the system could be misused as foreigners may try to come to Japan to receive expensive medical treatment at lower out-of-pocket money. ""

Xenophobia at full display.

If a person pays the premiums then he or she should be entitled to receive the medical care and services Regardless.

This is more anti foreigner nonsense.

Disgusting.

I would agree with OssanAmerica's comment.

@OssanAmerica

Even with a valid visa there are strict rules in place.

Whilst changing over to the new health card at my local government office a couple of months ago,there was a lady attempting to apply but her Visa was coming to an end shortly. She was told to go to immigration to renew her Visa and was prevented from applying for the my number card that day.

The my number card could possibly solve this if everyone were required to use it instead of hokensho, but the biometric log-in isn't required and a password can be used. They could require photo ID if a password is used, but that makes the hospital or clinic police the issue. I had a hat on once and it gummed up the works, Removed my hat and Face ID worked.

I do believe people who move to Japan from various countries who are here to work, to attend school, or both do help close family members to get needed medical treatment by helping them establish residence.

That means allowing them to stay with them as a dependent, then they receive treatment. Most of the time the payments are made by the relative receiving treatment or by the relative living in Japan longterm. Once their treatment is done, the visiting relative return to their home country. All of that is perfectly legal.

The problem is these politicians cannot complain about most Japanese voters who are the main violators because they are ones that also vote for these politicians.

If the government want more people to pay iinto the system then they should make the economy better. None of them have enough intelligence to do that, so they blame foreigners for their poor leadership and attempt to squeeze foreigners harder.

There will be no new health cards issued from this summer and everyone will use My Number instead.

I hope the government cracks down harder on foreigners who are abusing the insurance system. Keep the requirements for visas high! Strengthen processes to protect the health care system! Delay payments for those who are insured but have not been here for a minimum of 6 months!

We already know the government is strict with Japanese. Just a few years ago there was a famous case of a Japanese national getting caught for abusing the health insurance system.

Most of my American acquaintances have done this. In America only rich people have health insurance. They come to Japan and get medical treatment and then go home again.

It might be anecdotal, but there was a guy on Tik Tok who made a video about him going to the hospital after soon arriving in Japan, and he told them he still hadn't received his hoken sho, so they told him to just wait to pay until it was all sorted out. He did receive it and went back and paid the reduced fee, but I guess there could be some cases where people are able to get treatment and either not pay, or get away with a reduced fee.

So the xenophobia continues! First blame foreign tourists for everything and anything.

Now blame foreigners for the health insurance problems.

In the fiscal year through March 2024, around 970,000 foreign nationals were enrolled in the National Health Insurance program, representing 4 percent of the total, according to the ministry.

The question that should be asked is: why are so many on National health insurance and not signed up for any other public health insurance?

And I can tell you the reason, many foreigners here are not hired as full time employees (Swishing) despite being full time, they are hired often as "contracted" workers and not given health insurance so they must use the public National Insurance, you see this a lot in the language schools even with ALT contracted through companies to public schools, others are retail stores that give just below the needed hours to workers as to not qualify as full time so no health insurance.

Nearly every job I had as a outsourced worker didn't provide health insurance and I know plenty of other foreigners that have worked the same contract for years but have never been given health insurance and in most cases the employers are Japanese gaming the system.

A bigger problem is foreigners just not paying for their treatment and leaving the country and some with legal status and health insurance "sharing" their health cards with those who do not.

jinjapan

Today 07:50 am JST

Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine for up to 60 days, meaning if you have a chronic disease, you have to visit the doctor at least 6 times a year. The whole system needs to be reviewed, not just the gaijin.

60 days! Wow that would be nice.

I have see the doctor to get my heart meds renewed every 30 days, the most I ever got was 45 days when I had to return to my country of birth for a funeral and wouldn't be back in time to renew my meds.

Certain medications have maximum limits (at least that was what my doctor and pharmacist said) so some of my meds are 30 max unless specifical circumstances.

But it is the old ladies that get me, they congregate every week or so to get their vitamin shots (or something along that line) they sit there and chat and say stuff like "so where is so and so?" " Oh she has a cold, so she isn't coming today" same ladies same thing and this repeats every week or two.

Typical racist policy which has no basis I in fact!

Just another racist politician trying to score points by blaming foreigners for something that the stats show isn’t true!

on top of which it is so hard to get a visa to stay in Japan longer than 3 months that the money needed to be spent together with what is often mediocre medical treatment at best is exorbitant.

Trying to grab a few political points now that the anti foreigner sentiment is high in Japan. I seriously doubt that this really is an issue.

This article is quite misleading. The title suggests foreigners are misusing Japan’s health insurance, but the data says the opposite. Japanese residents make up 96% of the insured but claimed 98.8% of reimbursements—2.8% more than their share. Foreigners make up 4% of the total but claimed only 1.21%. If anything, it's the Japanese who are overusing the system. Targeting all foreigners based on vague concerns, despite clear numbers, is unfair and discriminatory. Addressing individual misuse would be a better approach, and it would be better not to blame an entire group.

MarkX

Today 09:33 am JST

It might be anecdotal, but there was a guy on Tik Tok who made a video about him going to the hospital after soon arriving in Japan, and he told them he still hadn't received his hoken sho, so they told him to just wait to pay until it was all sorted out. He did receive it and went back and paid the reduced fee, but I guess there could be some cases where people are able to get treatment and either not pay, or get away with a reduced fee.

A lot that is on social media needs to be taken as fake until confirmed.

I have never seen a first time visit to a hospital or doctor let the person leave without paying.

They collect the full amount then when you get your health insurance card, you go back and they reimburse you the difference.

I have actually seen this, it was pay first then get refunded.

Remember, this is in the news because some people decided it was newsworthy. Similar crackdowns have likely happened for Japanese nationals too, but that would not get reported because nobody would read it. The media bring this to our attention because of their xenophobia. The English language media bring this to our attention because people open the articles and comment on them!

I'm all in favor of the government cracking down on people who mis-use the excellent medical system in Japan. This is actually good news, but deliberately reported for political or ideological agenda.

In the fiscal year through March 2024, around 970,000 foreign nationals were enrolled in the National Health Insurance program, representing 4 percent of the total, according to the ministry.

From March 2023 to February 2024, 980.3 billion yen was reimbursed to those who exceeded their monthly cap of medical costs, of which 11.8 billion yen went to foreigners, or 1.21 percent of the total.

So foreigners pay in 4%, but only receive 1.21% of pay outs?

I assume a lot of this is due to demographics - lots of foreign residents are working age who don't need as much medical care, while the Japanese population is heavily greying and in need of more medical care - but still, it doesn't seem like this is a major problem.

Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the minor opposition Democratic Party for the People, has wrote on social media that "people staying for just 90 days can get high-cost medical benefits worth tens of millions of yen. It should be reviewed to make its application stricter."

This is pretty unfair. I've lived here for decades, paid into the system as I'm supposed to and if I suddenly get some serious disease or am greivously injured in a car accident I'll probably need millions of Yen in treatment but it doesn't mean I'm doing anything wrong.

@wallace

“There will be no new health cards issued from this summer and everyone will use My Number instead”

But not once did someone actually look at the photo on my My Number card to verify if it was actually me. They just point toward the scanner and ask me to log in.

Instead of looking to blame foreigners,the government should be looking into certain industries!

IT outsourcing, Language schools and outsourcing companies, Entertainment/talent agencies, just to name the biggest culprits that don't or rarely offer health insurance to their "employees".

IT outsourcing companies will sing a one year deal with a client, but a 1 month renewable with the workers and not offer any social benefits even if the workers remain in the same job the full year.

Language schools/outsourcing companies do the same thing.

Entertainment/talent agencies take up to 70% of the payment to the actors and offer zero in benefits even if the actor is in a multi year full time work position.

And all 3 of these industries are under the control of a limited number of companies and all functions the same or similarly.

Anyone that complains will be black listed within the said industry.

Antiquesaving

Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine for up to 60 days, meaning if you have a chronic disease, you have to visit the doctor at least 6 times a year. The whole system needs to be reviewed, not just the gaijin.

> 60 days! Wow that would be nice.

> I have see the doctor to get my heart meds renewed every 30 days, the most I ever got was 45 days when I had to return to my country of birth for a funeral and wouldn't be back in time to renew my meds.

Since 2020, I have visited the hospital every three months for post-cancer treatment and picked up my prescription for 90 of my medicines. About 21 times at two different hospitals.

This is pretty unfair. I've lived here for decades, paid into the system as I'm supposed to and if I suddenly get some serious disease or am greivously injured in a car accident I'll probably need millions of Yen in treatment but it doesn't mean I'm doing anything wrong.

I don't think there is such an inference. This guy is merely pointing out that statistically it seems like there could be an issue, which the department is rightlly looking into. Would you rather the system you have been paying into be exploited? You've been here decades, not 90 days.

Incidentally, the article uses the phrase 'has wrote on social media', which might be a representation of the high quality of the journalism in question here.

And the elderly Japanese who visit a hospital almost every day for something to do? I know plenty of people whose in-laws do that.

jinjapan

Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine for up to 60 days, meaning if you have a chronic disease, you have to visit the doctor at least 6 times a year. The whole system needs to be reviewed, not just the gaijin.

The insurance limit is 90 days, not 60. But, that still means having to visit the doctor 4 times per year, typically waiiting for an hour or more each time, just to get a refill prescription. But, some, if not many, doctors refuse to do that, and only give a one or two month prescription.

wallace

In my post-cancer treatment, I visit my hospital every three months for tests and collect a three-month prescription for my medicines.

My hospital-based urologist also prescribes 3-month supplies. I imagine it's because hospital doctors are on salary, so their income isn't based on maximizing the number of office visits.

But, even 90 days is too short. In the US, you can get a prescription with a year's worth of refills. You have to visit the pharmacy every month to get it filled. But, no doctor visits required. And, if you do online mail-order, you don't even have to visit the pharmacy. I miss that. (I don't miss the high costs for treatment, though!)

Instead of looking to blame foreigners,the government should be looking into certain industries!

Or much better look into both, and into other likely sources of problems and see if there is actually a problem and how to solve it.

Is it possible that foreigners may be abusing the system to get cheap medical insurance unfairly by not producing to the national economy? yes, not likely to be an important problem but probably worth looking into it. That companies abuse the system to avoid providing a better insurance than the public system is also something that should be addressed. Also systems that overcharge insurers or that have hiddens fees or loopholes to avoid taking care of medical fees as they are supposed to do, etc.

The best thing to do is to have the government look at all these problems and see how important they are, instead of pretending only one should be given attention.

garypen

wallace

In my post-cancer treatment, I visit my hospital every three months for tests and collect a three-month prescription for my medicines.

My hospital-based urologist also prescribes 3-month supplies. I imagine it's because hospital doctors are on salary, so their income isn't based on maximizing the number of office visits.

> But, even 90 days is too short. In the US, you can get a prescription with a year's worth of refills. You have to visit the pharmacy every month to get it filled. But, no doctor visits required. And, if you do online mail-order, you don't even have to visit the pharmacy. I miss that. (I don't miss the high costs for treatment, though!)

I need three monthly blood tests so the 90 day prescription is no problem. The visit and the medicine costs me about ¥7,000/3 months. ($50).

Antiquesaving

60 days! Wow that would be nice.

I have see the doctor to get my heart meds renewed every 30 days, the most I ever got was 45 days when I had to return to my country of birth for a funeral and wouldn't be back in time to renew my meds.

Certain medications have maximum limits (at least that was what my doctor and pharmacist said) so some of my meds are 30 max unless specifical circumstances.

You can get them to give you a refill-enabled prescription. It's something new in Japan. It has multiple 30-day prescriptions built into a single prescription. I believe the limit is still 90 days, so three 30-day scripts. But, at least you only have to visit the doc once every three months. You still have to visit the pharmacy, but that's still better than that long wait in the doc's office.

Foreigners from which country in particular?

wallace

Today 10:25 am JST

Antiquesaving

> Doctors are only allowed to prescribe medicine for up to 60 days, meaning if you have a chronic disease, you have to visit the doctor at least 6 times a year. The whole system needs to be reviewed, not just the gaijin.

> 60 days! Wow that would be nice.

> I have see the doctor to get my heart meds renewed every 30 days, the most I ever got was 45 days when I had to return to my country of birth for a funeral and wouldn't be back in time to renew my meds.

> Since 2020, I have visited the hospital every three months for post-cancer treatment and picked up my prescription for 90 of my medicines. About 21 times at two different hospitals

Wallace, respectfully, I am not saying you are not right or are not saying the truth.

Your case this is the situation and I believe you are telling the facts.

As I was explained by both my doctor and my pharmacist certain medications under the system are highly controlled and one of the ones I am on is in that category.

Prior to my heart attack, I was on daily meds and like you I was on a 90 day supply.

I know people on anti depressants and they are again limited to 30 days.

It depends on the medication and the rules surrounding those particular meds.

I take several different meds daily, only one is the problem, the rest could be prescribed up to 90 days, to renew I undergo an ECG monthly and a blood test every 2 months.

As I said each case is different and again I am not disputing your situation and it is nice that you are not required to go in monthly.

Despite our passed differences I am have high respect for anyone that is dealing with cancer or has survived cancer, so please take care and I meant not disrespect or doubted your situation.

I was just pointing out that in my case it is every 30 days.

Japantime

In America only rich people have health insurance.

That is simply not true. Health insurance is available at low or no cost to low-income residents in the US. (Although, who knows how long that will last with Leon Munsk and his DOUGE crew shutting everything down.) Also, most FT jobs provide health insurance, with the employee paying a partial premium.

How about, and this might sound crazy to a Japan politician dinosaur, copy the system they have in South Korea?

In South Korea, every single resident has a zairyu cado. EVERYONE. Not just foreign residents but every resident and citizen. And like what they want to do with the (stupid name) mai namba kaado, the card is used to verify your medical insurance, used for obtaining a jumin hyo, or just as an ID. And just like in South Korea, digitalise the system already. No more having to physically going to the yakusho in Okinawa to get some physical copy of a document, to register at your new yakusho in Hokkaido. You forgot that paper? How dare you? Go back and get it in Okinawa... or by postal mail if you can find the right address on their 90's website. I've just entered South Korea recently and a week later, I get a postcard on the mail stating "welcome back, you're back into the medical insurance system." Date shown on the postcard, the day I passed through immigration at the airport. No need to go through all the bureaucracy I have to in Japan (exemptions when I'm absent for a while, etc.)

This would make residence change and medical insurance simpler for residents. And if politicians are sooooo worried about foreign tourists exploiting the medical insurance system, in order to get a residence card there is already a not so simple process well established.

And yes, this sounds like what they sort of want with your my number card, but come on. It's been almost ten years since they introduced it and they still don't know what to do with our my namba.

@garthgoyle

That sounds just like what the MyNumber card is intended to do. Some of those functions are currently available. Some, planned for the future.

I wonder if SK had any glitches when they first rolled out their system the way Japan has?

I don't think there is such an inference. This guy is merely pointing out that statistically it seems like there could be an issue, which the department is rightlly looking into. Would you rather the system you have been paying into be exploited? You've been here decades, not 90 days.

The statistics cited in the article provide no evidence whatsoever in support of that being an issue. Are there other statistics he is relying on?

kurisupisuToday  09:03 am JST

@OssanAmerica

Even with a valid visa there are strict rules in place.

Whilst changing over to the new health card at my local government office a couple of months ago,there was a lady attempting to apply but her Visa was coming to an end shortly. She was told to go to immigration to renew her Visa and was prevented from applying for the my number card that day.

Many documents such as the My Number Card will not be issued unless the applicant's Zairyu Card is valid and not about to expire shortly. Same applies for a Drivers License or even opening a bank account.

But to be fair, requiring a Zairy card to be "valid" isn't all that strict, since if it's no longer valid then you are technically guilty of "overstay". Sort of like the 6 month validity rule for Passports.

MarkXToday  07:40 am JST

But trying to paint all foreigners as cheating the system, is typical right wing scare mongering, and I am really disappointed in Tamaki for even mentioning this.

Scapegoating foreigners is an easy way to make it look as if they're doing something about this escalating crisis with healthcare costs, instead of tackling the real issues that are causing it. That would involve asking some uncomfortable questions about what certain Japanese people, like doctors and the elderly, have been doing. They're strategically important to politicians so no one really wants to go there.

I have been seeing an ophthalmologist doctor every three months because I have developed Mascular Degenerative Disease (AMD) in my right eye. Last week on a visit we discussed the symptoms and he recommended I didn't need to see him again for another 6 months.

Facts:

Around 970,000 foreign nationals were enrolled in the National Health Insurance program, representing 4 percent of the total.

980.3 billion yen was reimbursed to those who exceeded their monthly cap of medical costs, of which 11.8 billion yen went to foreigners, or 1.21 percent of the total.

So foreign nationals are actually costing less in every way yet this article and Japanese lawmakers try to make it a problem. Japan's transition from cool to ridiculous was already underway. Seems they raise the hand to sickening (literally).

4% of the people are foreigners. 1.21% of the them exceeded the cap. The Japanese politicians seem to want to correct a problem that doesn’t exist.

The vast majority of the foreigners registered are young, healthy migrant workers who will generally make fewer claims on the system. As it stands, those foreign workers are subsidising the Japanese claimants. If no problem has been identified, maybe they shouldn’t waste tax payers money rocking a stable boat.

The truth is that many Vietnamese workers would rather buy a plane ticket to return home for treatment than stay in Japan for treatment under the Japanese Health Insurance. They are tired of hearing the doctor say "daijoubu", but the illness still lasts for several months, reducing their productivity and their income.

With only 1,200 yen, they can get a medical examination within a few hours, simple illnesses are treated within a week, and they are healthy enough to return to work with the highest productivity.

This will not be in the politician's statistics.

Not only Vietnamese people in Japan, Vietnamese people in the US, in Europe, and in Korea do the same. There is a lot of information online, and you can search easily. Treatment in Vietnam is both fast and cheap.

As OssanAmerica says, this allegation seems to rest on the mistaken assumption that any foreign can swan in and get loads of free treatment. This does not happen and it is essentially xenophobia for politicians to put this image in ordinary people's heads.

First of all, you have to successfully join Japanese medical insurance, which tourists can't do. To get on, you will have to get a job or study place that will qualify you. I doubt employers are employing lots of ill people. The study route will involve paying for a study course that is unwanted by someone wanting medical treatment.

What abuse there will be is people borrowing someone else's paper hokensho and going to the doctors. This can be done by everyone, Japanese included, at hospitals who are slack enough to let you get away with it. It's one reason why they are switching to MyNumber with a photo on the card.

If there were no savings the healthcare savings would be minute.

From March 2023 to February 2024, 980.3 billion yen was reimbursed to those who exceeded their monthly cap of medical costs, of which 11.8 billion yen went to foreigners, or 1.21 percent of the total.

mistyped that one

If there were no foreigners the healthcare savings would be minute.

From March 2023 to February 2024, 980.3 billion yen was reimbursed to those who exceeded their monthly cap of medical costs, of which 11.8 billion yen went to foreigners, or 1.21 percent of the total.

Deja vu. Looks like they were "probing" the same issue 7 years ago.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/07/02ae4409aded-japan-probing-abuse-of-health-insurance-system-by-foreign-residents.html

...amid concerns voiced by some lawmakers that people may come from overseas to take advantage of the support for expensive medical treatment.

Imagine you are a foreigner who needs expensive medical treatment. Would you stay 90 days in Japan, presumably after seaching and finding a job while you are needing expensive medical treatment, and paying for health insurance? Or perhaps you'd just bop over to Thailand, where the medical care is also cheap, the doctors are excellent, you wouldn't have to wait, and there is an entire industry happy to provide good service?

people staying for just 90 days can get high-cost medical benefits worth tens of millions of yen.

You can't get the national insurance if you're a short term visitor which is up to 90 days. What is this Tamaki sniffing?

A Chinese woman, Song Kexin, who cost the Japanese medical subsidy 13 million yen, mocked the Japanese for being suckers...

Think about the influx of thousands of sickly Chinese into Japan.

By the same token they also need to investigate the hospitals that charge double or more the regular fees for the simple reason of not having Japanese health insurance.

I went to Tokyo Shukai hospital in Akishima in 2011 and paid in cash against my credit card.

I went back in 2020 during COVID for unknown pains,(which later on it was diagnosed as Shingles.

When the bill came excessively high, I asked why. They explained that for people without Japanese health insurance, they charged double.

This is short of extortion.

I have a Japanese Medical Health Insurance and have no complains about it. Four years ago I had a surgery and eleven days hosptalisation, I only paid ¥47,850.

CanuckNikkei Apr. 15 04:57 am JST

A Chinese woman, Song Kexin, who cost the Japanese medical subsidy 13 million yen, mocked the Japanese for being suckers...

Think about the influx of thousands of sickly Chinese into Japan

And the china-nese wonder why the world hates them and is disgusted by them....

At least Japan has an universal system

JapantimeApr. 14  09:23 am JST

Most of my American acquaintances have done this. In America only rich people have health insurance. They come to Japan and get medical treatment and then go home again.

If so it would have to be because the cost of medical treatment (without Japanese insurance) out-of-pocket is lower than that of the United States. Because without a long-term Visa (longer than 90 days) they can't get Japanese Insurance.

But you're saying that Americans who can't afford Private medical insurance in the US (typically about $900-1000 a person per month for full PPO) can afford to fly to Japan, get treated and pay out of pocket and fly back?

HercolobusApr. 15  06:09 am JST

By the same token they also need to investigate the hospitals that charge double or more the regular fees for the simple reason of not having Japanese health insurance.

When the bill came excessively high, I asked why. They explained that for people without Japanese health insurance, they charged double.

This is short of extortion.

It's actually more than double.

If you have Kokuminhoken, you pay 30% of the charge and Insurance covers the remaining 70%.

If you have no insurance you pay 100% of the charge.

This is why anyone in Japan for 90 days or less should have Travel Insurance.

This isn't extortion. The same situation would occur if a Japanese traveller without travel insurance needed medical care in another country.