Hi. I had hodgkins lymphoma and require to do one or two studies a year as checks to ensure my cancer isn’t back. Right now I am issuing my student visa to Japan, and my question is, if I had to do one of these studies, that usually are a blood exam and a CT or PET scan, how much do they cost with and without the Japanese NHI?
Also, if my 9 months visa is approved, would I have NHI or they can refuse to provide me the health insurance?
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Enrollment in health insurance (NHI or employee) is mandatory. You cannot be refused.
I tried to find a price for a lymphoma follow-up, but with no luck. There is a maximum co-pay per month based on income, but I’m not sure how that applies to students.
You have to be enrolled in the NHI. You’ll pay 30% of the bill. I have had several MRIs here and I paid about ¥10k for one. I’m not sure how much more nuclear medicine will be.
You can apply at your ward office/city hall for a maximum payment cut-off, but you might not get it right off the bat. I had to apply to one before a surgery I had and they had to confirm my payment history to the NHI first. It also figures according to your annual income and how high the estimated costs will be, so I’m not 100% sure if you’ll be eligible on a stay less than a year.
Edit: by the way, you’ll need to get a referral letter before visiting a major hospital for check ups. You have to pay a lot in if you don’t have one. A local clinic should be able to get you one.