Healthcare in Japan. Some considerations you need to take into account before moving here.
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Japan has a world class health system but there are some things that you really need weigh up before moving here.
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Garys channel here
Life in rural Japan
/ @larrikinjapan
Garys go fund me page for his wife
www.gofundme.c...
Garys coffee link
ko-fi.com/life...
Garys channel here
Life in rural Japan
www.youtube.com/@@larrikinjapan
Garys go fund me page for his wife
www.gofundme.com/f/unknown-suspected-autoimmune-disease?lang=en_AU&
Garys coffee link
ko-fi.com/lifeinruraljapan
Thanks Steve I really appreciate your support. The other thing is my wife is Japanese and they are still messing her around. Thanks again mate I really appreciate your support.
No worrries hope everything improves and it turns around for you guys.
I completely agree. This has been my experience in Japan. Fortunately I haven’t had to use medical services very often, but when I do, it’s extremely efficient and inexpensive. If you go to a large hospital or clinic for service, they usually dispense the medications right there.
I’ve always wanted to do a deep dive on WHY we have to pay so much in America for basic healthcare. Going back and forth between the two countries for years, I’ve had a chance to compare basic services. Anecdotally, some things I’ve noticed: When you walk into a clinic in Japan, it’s usually clean, well organized, but fairly spartan. You might wait for 20 minutes to an hour to be seen, but the cost is so low, I can just pay out of pocket. When I go to an American clinic, I usually have an appointment but I still might wait 20 or 30 minutes to be seen. The American clinic will often be in a newer building and the lobby will be adorned with designer chairs and lamps, coffee maker in the corner and the latest magazine issues on the table. Your bill will be sent first to your medical insurance (if you can afford it) and whatever they don’t pay will probably set you back several hundred dollars minimum. Something else you might notice is the late model Porsche in the physicians parking spot. In Japan, the doctor probably rode to the clinic on a bicycle. There are many other examples I could give, but this gives you some idea of the stark contrasts between the two systems. Yes, if you need brain surgery or have a complex medical condition that requires the latest equipment or treatment, it’s probably better to go to the states, but a nagging cough, broken elbow, or common skin ailment, you’ll be better off in Japan.
That’s my conclusion too.
@@sleeplessstu It is obvious, greed.
@@keramanbub8799
"Greed" its just Capitalism Timmy
Actually, Japanese doctors are one of the best-paid professions in Japan with above average salaries. I don't know how they made the overall cost so low though. I am never afraid to get my annual medical and dental check ups and definitely can afford to call an ambulance without fear of bankruptcy.
The infection i developed in February of this year that put me in the hospital for over a week, was 94k usd. This was 2 surgeries and a bunch of other stuff. The nearly 4 months of home health care, 3 nurse visits a week, was roughly 60k.
I was extremely lucky having already been physically disabled since i was 19 because that means im on government insurance.
only paid about 400$ out of pocket for medical supplies
wishing the best for Gary's wife and him ❤️
Thanks for supporting fellow foreigners in Japan Steve! I will be checking out his channel and praying for them.
Cheers hope it turns around for him.
I’m moving to rural Japan next year as an ALT. I will be 37 so these types of videos are very insightful.
US citizen here. I also work in healthcare as a therapist in a subacute facility. I’ve also worked in long term care for 10 years. First of all, it does depend on where you’re employed regarding health insurance and how much you’re willing to pay. I have mid tier health insurance and pay $600 usd per month for family. Copay for routine visits to the doctor can be $40-50 and I save on generic prescriptions since brand names are costly.
Comparing to Japan I believe the quality of care is sub par just from my own experience and observations. I’m planning to retire in Japan mainly because I’m concerned about healthcare in the US.
It’s true that if you have the money and you need specialized care the US is very good however, MOST people will never get that level of care unless you’re willing to pay out of pocket. The system is also strained because people are so much more unhealthy here compared to Japan. We are always short staffed whether it’s nursing or therapy. Workers are burnt out and you will most likely not receive quality care because of that.
Also the attitudes of workers here are less professional by a mile. There is no comparison. In Japan I think it’s more consistent across the board. In the US it always depends on who or where you go. I hate the feeling that it’s the “luck of the draw” when it comes to almost anything service related here.
Also don’t get me started with bills. I just had a colonoscopy and endoscopy. I’ve already received 3 separate bills. One from the doctor, hospital and anesthesiologist lol. Although since it was routine, I will mostly likely not pay anything as long as the claiming process goes smoothly. Watch out for non routine procedures and be sure you are in network.
My wife who is Japanese had a medical emergency here and was transported in a wheelchair via ambulance. The non chalant attitude of the workers upset her so much. While securing her in the ambulance she said the paramedics sighed about their jobs and couldn’t wait for their lunch break. Again, attitude and professionalism is almost non existent.
You do not want to end up in long term care here. Unless you can advocate for yourself, you will experience some form of negligence. I don’t blame the staff as much as the business model. We don’t care about the root of your health problems and underlying issues, we just deal with your symptoms.
I just returned from Japan this week and I was so happy to have seen the care in Japan at work. My mother in law started to experience pain around her left hip and it was shooting down her leg. I immediately thought of sciatica and recommended her to go see her doctor. She felt better when she was up and about but when she transitioned from a sitting position to standing she would go “itatatata” with a grimace on her face.
Anyway, she’s 77 years old and it was quite hot outside but she’s stubborn and insisted on taking a 10 min bicycle ride to hospital. She returned home a few hours later and without an appointment, received a consultation, an X-ray, MRI, physical therapy including manual stretching, exercise regimen, hot/cold packs, e-stim and spinal decompression all for a whopping 1,500…yen. Subsequent therapy sessions are 150 yen. She said she felt so much better. Sorry but I cannot see how the level of care can even compare to the US. I have over ten years of experiences and stories to tell and I understand nuance but nobody can convince me it’s better here than Japan when it comes to healthcare.
Had one guy in comments say it’s low to mid tier and had 2 hospitals within a mile radius. Got seen to straightaway and had X-ray all for $50. Maybe he was expecting dancing girls and some champagne on ice to be included.
@@RealRuralJapanthe entitlement is unreal 😊
Great video mate. Im an Australian (originally from Sydney) but now in SA. Im planning on selling my house within the next 6 months and moving to Japan. I just discovered your channel and subscribed, gonna watch all your vids now ! I need to research as much as I can before selling up and need to talk with a local Japanese visa lawyer to see which visa would work for me. Id like to go there and either start a business or buy some akiya houses and turn them into holiday rentals. Ill check out Gary's channel. Sad to hear about his wife and the problems they are having, no healthcare system is perfect, especially ours here in oz (everything is rationed here, they get you in and out quick !). Cheers.
Before you potentially make costly mistakes i strongly advise checking out my Akiya series on Patreon i guarantee you will thank me for it. Just this series alone is well worth the cost of entry and will save you a ton of money and headache!
The good and the bad of US healthcare in a nutshell: I was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. In many countries, the problem with this is commonly managed with lifelong medication instead of surgical intervention. If there is the possibility of a surgical intervention, it takes months to make its way through the national health system so patients can wait 18 months or more.
US- I was diagnosed. Two weeks later I was authorized for surgery by doctor. It went to health insurance for review. It was authorized in a week. I was put into the university health system for a surgical date. Three weeks later I walked in, had the procedure, walked out the next morning and was back at work in 7 days.
Grand total before insurance (ten years ago) was 180,000 USD. Combined insurances picked up 90%. So...ahem...ONLY 18k out of pocket.
Speaking as someone who my dearest starting to suffer from an autoimmune thing now, I can only say thanks for bringing this up. And best wishes to Gary and wife.
Sorry to hear hope it works itself out 😔
Was thinking to go to Japan in October and while I was there getting my teeth cleaned; nearly $250 in Australia 😳 (Health Care Card holder though so Dental University can do it for free/minimal cost).
What's giving me serious consternation about staying there more than a month or 2 is that I've had a kidney transplant; that means I need a Nephrologist who can put up with me trying to use Medical Japanese to explain my condition as well as a regular supply of medication which includes a steroid. Great fun!😅 (I do have a 2cm wide vein on my forearm that protrudes as an aneurysm as a result of a fistula, so I'm kind of curious to walk around with that to see the reaction of Japanese people to it lol).
One thing I noticed in Japan, was that people do not pull over or get out of the way for ambulances. People have a total disregard for ambulances there. Multiple times I witnessed an ambulance trying to get through an intersection and nobody would stop, the passenger of the ambulance was even on the megaphone pleading with people to please let them through. Here, it's the law to get out of the way, and, sadly, we have that law because of this kind of behaviour previously.
I have never seen that it is possible it was an old guy who was partially deaf in their way. Those megaphones seem prerecorded with messages because the dude always has the same voice but i could be wrong.
Chelation therapy targets inflammation, which is the root of most disease including arthritis and many autoimmune diseases. Chelation therapy may offer an alternative to ongoing medication as treatment for chronic pain. Hope this info helps.
I keep hearing how USA hospitals are on par or worse than Japanese ones from videos but I have a hard time believing it. My friend, they refused to check her pain, refused a hysterectomy because she would want kids (she didn’t) and even claimed she was sleeping around because she was of color. Found out that through an ultrasound she had cysts and one ruptured. Had to pay out of pocket and it took months, years of pain. She got a hysterectomy finally though.
How much is the monthly payment for the national health insurance?
In Canada it used to be about 30 CAD a month, depends on the province. About the same in the Taiwan NHI system, around 20 bucks a month, including basic dental.
Not sure but it is not a lot.
I have heart faliure, it is managed with medicine. With medicine I it has no effect on my life, how is heart medicine in Japan.
Medicines are usually sold worldwide by the same companies so I assume the doctors here prescribe similarly.
Also well wishes to Gary's wife and him. Using the phone and can’t edit.
Always curious about mental healthcare in Japan. I've been told it's not great, but I'm purely running off anecdotes for this. Therapists/Psychiatrists and whatnot
I would be very interested to hear how the Japanese healthcare system failed Gary's wife.
I moved to the UK 5 years ago, and then started experiencing the onset of an autoimmune disease. After 4 years of medication, dozens of diagnostic procedures, 3 surgeries and 3 months total spent in hospital. All I've paid is £460 total which is the maximum you have to pay for prescriptions, £115 a year. The NHS isn't the prettiest or the most luxurious, but it works for saving lives (without ruining lives financially). I would have hoped the Japanese system had at least reached that minimum.
So if something really medically serious happened, would you go back to Australia for treatment?🤔🤔
No i don't have the means but this is a video for those who might overlook this.
I think infection control is a serious issue in the Japanese medical system.
Dude, anything is better than here lol.
Japanese health care is not good for any chronic health problems.