If you are planning to go to Japan, consider buying travel insurance in your country before leaving.
First, Check out the insurance policy and credit card contract that you own currently. You need to make sure policies have global medical insurance, emergency evacuation, travel protection, baggage protection and so on.
In Japan, when a foreign tourist visiting Japan is treated at a Japanese medical institution, he/she will be fully responsible to pay for it.
According to the report from Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc, treatment for heatstroke, which is very common during the summer season, can cost 700,000 yen (about$6,447), and treating broken bones can cost 3,000,000 yen ($27630).
I am going to tell you today is there are insurance policies for foreign tourists just in case you don’t have a travel insurance policy, and you can buy it in Japan.
The benefit of buying a Japanese insurance policy is much smoother to provide the medical institution and interpreter service that you can speak your language.
In fact, there is sometimes a problem between a medical institute in Japan and the insurance company in your country due to the different payment procedures but you don’t have to worry about it if you buy a Japanese insurance policy for foreign tourists.
TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY(Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co)
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd, produce the insurance for foreign tourists called “TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY”, which covers medical expenses incurred due to injuries and illnesses in Japan and repatriation to your home country.
Service
- Tokio Marine Nichido will pay medical expenses and drug expense directly to the hospital
- Support for repatriation to your home or a medical institution in your home country
- Provide interpreting service available in English, Chinese and Korean via phones
- Support in case your passport or credit card is lost or stolen
- Transport between the airport and your hotel
- Forwarding of messages to family members and other persons overseas
- Safety information is relevant to your trip.
period and payment
TOKIO OMOTENASHI POLICY has a plan for 1 day up to 31 days.
The application is available from 30 days before entering to Japan, and the applicator can use credit card payment.
The visitors are not able to buy the policy if your stay is over 5-day after entering Japan.
Travel Insurans For Visitors (Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc)
Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc. provides the insurance policy for foreign visitors too. This one also covered mainly medical expenses during the trip inside Japan.
Service
- Provide approximately 800 cooperated medical institutions.
- Provide interpreting service via phone calls.
- Sompo Japan Nipponkoawill pay medical expenses and drug expense directly to the hospital
- You can purchase this insurance regardless of whether the travel is for sightseeing or on business.
period and payment
“Travel Insurance For Visitors” has plans for 10 days up to 30 days.
Be sure to sign up for this insurance policy after entering Japan, the policy will be invalid if you purchase it in your country.
Credit card payment only.
ONE TWO support (OTS rent-a-car)
If you plan to rent a car in Okinawa, there is the only insurance that the rent-car company sells for foreign tourists.
It calls “One Two Support Travel Insurance for Japan Visitors”, which is provided by OTSrent-a-car ( Okinawa Tourist Service Company).
“One Two Support Travel Insurance for Japan Visitors” is an insurance service that provides compensation for treatment due to sudden illness or injury during coverage period with payment-less service, and interpretation service at medical institutions.
Services
- “One Two Support” will pay medical expenses and drug expense directly to the hospital
- Provide interpreting service via phone calls.
- Support for repatriation to your home or a medical institution in your home country
Conclusion
According to the Japan Tourism Agency(JTA) “Actual Survey, 1 out of 20 people (5%) experienced illness or injury while traveling in Japan. About 30% of those affected felt they needed to go to a medical facility.
Also, OTS rent-a-car says that 81 accidents have been reported, and a total coverage was 5,287,570 yen (about$48,619) that the company paid as of May 31, 2019, since the insurance service launched January 1, 2019.
In the past case, foreign tourists could get compensation which was about 3 million yen ($27,585) in treatment costs due to an unexpected accident while traveling by travel insurance policy.
In addition, some medical institutions were worried about recovering treatment costs from foreign patients.
Travel insurance for foreign visitors covers treatment costs during traveling in Japan. The main feature is you can purchase after entering Japan.
Be sure to check before purchasing the insurance policy, details of contract vary depends on the companies.
In case of emergency situations…
Download apps for disaster alerts in case of natural disasters included heatwaves.
