Cheesy again, I know, but appropriate given that now about when a good number of questions start coming the Doucho way, and Dan Henrick’s wonderful new webpage sure seems a good way to answer at least a few of those that keep cropping up. We are hoping that the PA corner will be home to:

• an upcoming events/required documents timeline;
• those pesky Doucho documents that you e been hunting for;
• recommended websites that are more helpful than I am;
• pearls of wisdom that roll my way (be warned, that doesn happen very often, unfortunately).

Weekly Updates!
Please check in and see what up those of us working for you at the Doucho are really hoping that this will be a useful way of helping keep the Hokkaido JET community better informed and more involved.

Contact Me
Of course, any feedback you have to give will be much appreciated write to me at alford.michelle@pref.hokkaido.lg.jp and I’ll do what I can to make this site as useful as possible to those for whom it is intended.

Insurance Issues
A lot of people aren’t sure about what their JET insurance covers and what it doesn’t. To start with, it’s important to realize that the JET-specific insurance you receive is actually the JET Programme Accident Insurance. This insurance covers the 30% not covered by the National Health Insurance, funnily enough, in the case of an accident/emergency. Say, for example, you’re unfortunate enough to break your nose while slipping on the ice and falling flat on your face, 70% of the medical costs will be covered by the National Health Insurance, the remaining 30% is covered by the JET PAI.

However, if you have a slight bend in your snout that is causing you grief and you want to have it straightened, well, the accident insurance is not going to help you out there (neither will NHI). Nor will the JET PAI cover massage, chiropractic work, yoga classes, or cuticle peels unless specifically prescribed by a doctor (and only in case where the work is required as the result of an injury/accident sustained while in Japan). Hospital visits for cold and flu, allergies, dermatological issues, are also not covered by the JET PAI, but…

…ALL contracted employees in Japan are also required to pay into the National Health Insurance (NHI) fund, which covers a whopping 70% of all medical costs, for REQUIRED treatments and PRESCRIBED medications. Yes, you are enrolled. This means that those aforementioned hospital visits, dermatological issues, dental work (NOT INCLUDING CHECK-UP OR CLEANING) are 70% covered by the NHI. Meaning, if you go to the doctor because you have a cold, you’re likely to receive a bill for a paltry 560yen. Lovely. Medicines also come out exceedingly cheap, and when you have the dreaded influenza, a bout on the tenteki (I.V.) for three hours, plus your visit and associated meds, is unlikely to put you out of pocket any further than 2000 yen. Excellent.

*Please take note that in Japan, STD checks, the pill, over-the-counter medicines, cosmetic dental work (non-metallic fillings), pap smears and the like, are at full-cost to the patient.

*JET Accident insurance does cover you when abroad, but ALL expenses must first be met by the JET, who on return to Japan applies for reimbursement (by submitting a whole raft of documents, including translations of all Certificates of Treatment Details, as well as translations of medical costs paid (all submitted translated pages must bear the translator’s name, address, and seal). Please remember that in Japan, paperwork takes time. Also, the JET insurance does not include theft/lost goods etc. so it is always a good idea to take out separate insurance when traveling.

*Treatment for any injury/illness that developed while in Japan WILL NOT BE COVERED by Japanese insurance when you return to your home country.