Long story short: I’ve been unemployed for a little while and I’ve lapsed on my health insurance payments. But that’s not the real issue.
I fell down in the street with a stomach ulcer and was sent to the hospital for checks and stuff. They’ve kept me here a week and said that the bill – AFTER INSURANCE – would be ¥400,000. I have maybe ¥300,000 total, and I need that for rent and food. I’ve asked to set up a payment plan but the only English speaking translator seems to think it’s a problem. What do I do?
8 comments
Talk to the hospital and work out a payment plan.
Go to your city office. Tell them you need to apply for 高額療養費制度
This will cap the medical expense depending on last year’s taxable income. The highest bracket is at roughly 830K per month taxable, and will cap the medical expenses for one month at 252,600 yen + (total medical expenses*1 – 842,000 yen) x 1%
If you were teaching English and making less than 260K a month, then it would cap at 57,600 yen.
Take the paperwork to the hospital, and they’ll reduce the payment.
Also – go to Hello Work and sort out your unemployment benefits.
¥400,000 after insurance seems like a lot for a week in the hospital, are you sure they aren’t charging you the full amount due to your lapsed insurance? Not sure how payment plans work for hospitals, but maybe go to the 国民健康保険 counter at your 市役所 and ask if they can help.
> I’ve lapsed on my health insurance payments.
The good news is that since it’s mandatory, you are still covered even if you did not pay.
By “lapsed on my healthcare bills,” do you mean you ignored the bills and didn’t even pay the minimum for NHI? Do you currently have a valid 健康保険証？
you sure the bill wasn’t more like 40,000?
my wife’s delivery didn’t even cost anywhere near that
Out of topic but do people still not realize that the heath insurance is a scam if OP is required to pay 400,000 AFTER insurance deduction? Lived in 2 countries prior to moving to Japan where apart from the “excess” which one could choose to set it at $100, $200 etc, everything else was paid for by insurance (to a maximum like $100k)
You don’t have to pay at once if u talk with hospital they will manage according to your ability.been there done that don’t stress brother rest well.