Last Updated on by Talita
Are you looking to move to Japan and transform your life? Want to know about getting good health coverage in your new country? Read on here to find out everything you need to ensure your safety in case of medical emergencies!
There are several things you need to do before moving to another country – have a stay to settle down, look for jobs, understand the bureaucracy, buy your tickets, go after learning the new language…
But one task that people sometimes overlook is securing their health insurance.
Japan has one of the highest costs of living in the world, compared to New York and London. As in many other countries, housing will be your biggest cost, but the high wages and job benefits offered are proportionate enough to have a good quality of life.
But in addition to talking about your international health insurance options for an expat in Japan, let’s first talk a little bit about how Japan’s health care system is structured, what is the difference between travel insurance and expat insurance, what is the coverage that you will need, and much more.
(And be sure to stay until the end of the article to learn more about the different types of visas you can get to live, study and work in the far east!)
How does the healthcare system in Japan work?
Japan’s Statutory Health Insurance System (SHIS) offers universal health coverage and is considered one of the most effective models in the world.
The health model was created in 1961 and is the result of a variety of changes over time, as in the 20th century, medicine was practiced based on Chinese medical practice.
SHIS is financed primarily by tax and citizen contributions. Among the services, some are: hospitals; primary, specialist and mental health care, as well as prescription drugs. Japanese citizens pay a 30% tax for most services.
Older people and more financially vulnerable children have access to lower service fees, and there is an annual household financial limit for long-term health care services based on age and income for these individuals.
Do expats need to have health insurance in Japan?
Simply put: yes! Health care in Japan is mandatory for expats who have a resident visa or work permit.
So, it’s important that you insure yourself with one of the coverage I’ve selected from the list below 🙂
But in addition to being mandatory, an international health plan gives you more peace of mind. Especially being in a new country that is different from your own, with laws, structures and a language you may not know, and high healthcare costs.
Therefore, having international health insurance coverage will give you the security that you are covered in any unexpected situation or emergencies. In addition, there are several other benefits that you can get with an international plan (as I will say in the next question).
As an immigrant in Japan, should you obtain international health insurance such as those recommended in the list below? Or should you get a national plan?
In fact, this is a choice that is entirely up to you, as only you know your specific medical needs, the specific coverage you will need in your insurance, the length of your stay in Japan and the options available from national plans.
An international health insurance plan must meet your in-country coverage requirements. If you choose to get an international plan, be sure to check with the Japanese government embassies to see what the minimum insurance coverage required is.
I’ve never lived in Japan so I don’t know enough about the national plans that might be available and so I can’t say much about them.
With that in mind, below are some of the reasons you might want to choose an international health insurance plan over public coverage:
- Compared to the costs you may incur, international health insurance may have cheaper monthly fees;
- International health insurance may be easier to use if your stay is short in Japan, as you can choose exactly how long you want your plan to be;
- International health insurance has greater flexibility as you can cancel or extend it at any time;
- International health insurance provides coverage in other countries, not just Japan (hence it’s “international” health insurance).
Who do these international health insurance policies cover?
The health insurance companies I have listed below are for the following citizens living in Japan as expatriates, immigrants, workers, or even students:
- Americans
- Canadians
- Australians
- Brazilians
- European Union citizens (Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Polish, Belgian, Swedish)
- Argentines
- British (English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish)
- New Zealanders
- And for citizens of almost any other country
In addition to expats/immigrants residing in Japan, these companies also work for residents living in:
- The United States;
- Canada;
- Europe (European Union and United Kingdom);
- Australia;
- And for expats living in almost any other country in the world.
Overall, as they are international plans and companies, they can be used by virtually anyone anywhere as they have worldwide coverage!
Why can’t I take out travel insurance when I move to Japan? What is the difference between travel insurance and expat insurance?
Travel insurance is important and necessary for any trip as it will not only cover issues you may experience in the event of unexpected emergencies and medical issues, but also for issues with your trip such as misplaced luggage or flight cancellations.
It is important to know that travel insurance is not ideal for immigrants. While it is possible to have travel insurance for longer periods, it is only available to travelers staying temporarily in a country. Travel insurance coverage is not valid for someone who will be staying in another country for the long term.
Also, travel insurance will not meet your health insurance coverage required by law to live in Japan.
So, you’re really going to want to choose an insurance plan that specifically covers expats. And that’s exactly what I’ll help you with the list below.
Why can’t I take out travel insurance when I move to Japan? What is the difference between travel insurance and expat insurance?
Travel insurance is important and necessary for any trip as it will not only cover issues you may experience in the event of unexpected emergencies and medical issues, but also for issues with your trip such as misplaced luggage or flight cancellations.
It is important to know that travel insurance is not ideal for immigrants. While it is possible to have travel insurance for longer periods, it is only available to travelers staying temporarily in a country. Travel insurance coverage is not valid for someone who will be staying in another country for the long term.
Also, travel insurance will not meet your health insurance coverage required by law to live in Japan.
So, you’re really going to want to choose an insurance plan that specifically covers expats. And that’s exactly what I’ll help you with the list below.
What are the 7 best health insurances for expats and immigrants in Japan?
It can be very stressful to find the right insurance plan. With that in mind, take a look at the comparison table of the companies I recommend below. So you can quickly see what the pros and cons of each company are and make the best choice for you!
After the table, I will make a longer description of each of the companies, their plans, main benefits and much more!
That said, the biggest advice I can give is to quickly get a quote from each of the companies on this list before making your decision. It might take a while, but at the end of the day, you can save a lot of money!
Note: the 7 companies are international. If you prefer to work with a Brazilian company with service in Portuguese, check out Seguros Promo. I talk more about it at the end of the article.
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| BENEFIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT |
| Benefit Information | |||||||
| Medical Maximum | Unlimited (for the Platinum plan) | $8,000,000 | The site doesn’t specify | Unlimited | US$1,000,000 per year | The site doesn’t specify | $1,000,000 |
| U.S. In-Network Coinsurance | You choose. From 70%(100% thereafter) to 100% | 100% | No | 60% for maximum coinsurance and then 100% | Yes, for higher fees | Only in emergencies | Yes |
| U.S. Out-of-Network Coinsurance | You choose. From 70%(100% thereafter) to 100% | 90% to $5,000 (100% thereafter) | Yes, for higher fees | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Mental Health Availability | No waiting period | 12-month waiting period | Co-payment of $25 per visit, waived deductible | 75% up to 40 visits / 60% after that | No | Waiting period of 10 months | Depends on the plan |
| Mental Health Benefit | Inpatient and Outpatient: $5,000 lifetime maximum to paid in full depending on the plan | Inpatient and Outpatient: $50,000 lifetime maximum | Co-payment of $250 after deductible | 100% up to 60 days | International and ambulance: limit not specified | ||
| Inpatient Prescription Drugs | $500 to paid in full depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Yes | Complete reimbursement | Yes | Yes | |
| Outpatient Prescription Drugs | None, unless you buy the International Outpatient Option | Up to $8,000,000 | Complete reimbursement | Yes | Yes | ||
| Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains | Paid in full | Up to $8,000,000 | Yes | Up to $25,000 | No | Up to 10,000 euros | Yes |
| Accidental Death & Dismemberment | Depends on the plan | Rider available, limit depends on age. | $50,000 | Depends on the plan | |||
| Emergency Dental | Paid in full | Up to $8,000,000 | Optional | 1,000 per year, $ 200 per tooth | Yes, however you need to pay an extra fee on top of your plan | Depending on the plan, it’s unlimited | It has coverage in the Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International plans |
| Treatment Necessary as Result of Terrorism | Up to the amount of the coverage | Rider available up to $50,000-lifetime maximum | Clause available up to maximum of $50,000 in lifetime payments | ||||
| Amateur Sports | Unlimited | Rider available up to $10,000 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Newborn Care | |||||||
| Routine Nursery Care of a Newborn Child of a Covered Pregnancy | $25,000 to $156,000 depending on the plan | $1,000 additional deductible, $50,000 lifetime maximum, $200 wellness benefit for first 12 months | Yes | Depends on the plan | Can be unlimited depending on the plan | Can be unlimited depending on the plan | |
| Children born as a result of fertility treatment (such as IVF or surrogacy) | Only after the baby is 90 days old | Excluded | Depends on the plan | Excluded | No | ||
| Neonatal Intensive Care Unit | Check website for updated information | $250,000 maximum for first 31 days | No | Up to $250,000 for the first 31 days | No | ||
| Pre-existing Conditions | |||||||
| Pre-existing condition exclusion period | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness |
| Pre-existing condition look back period | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to the effective date | Any time prior to the effective date | Any time prior to the effective date |
| Pre-existing annual maximum once covered | Unlimited depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan | Full reimbursement | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan |
| Pre-existing lifetime maximum once covered | Unlimited depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan | Full reimbursement | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan |
Attention: This article and table are made for informational purposes as the information contained here is subject to changes and updates.
In my opinion, the best international health insurance companies for expats are:
- Cigna
- IMG
- Now Health
- Aetna
- SafetyWing
- Global Underwriters
- Foyer Global Health
1. Cigna
First up, we have Cigna, a large American insurance company that’s also widespread in Europe. Cigna is a great choice when we talk about international health insurance.
With more than 60 years of operating on the market, Cigna is well-known for its insurance and has more than 170 million clients around the world. My partner, Nikki, actually purchased a health insurance plan from Cigna in order to qualify for her residence card in Sweden.
Cigna has a wide range of plans for you to choose from, including plans made specifically for expats (and which work great if you’re going to be moving to Japão!), plus both individual and family plans).
One of the biggest advantages of an insurance plan with Cigna is that you can add benefits to your plan based on the specific medical care you need to have covered. You can choose from Cigna’s Silver, Platinum, or Gold plan, all of which include coverage in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.
If you’re looking for a cheap health insurance plan for Japão, a great option is Cigna’s Close Care plan. This plan is the most budget-friendly one that Cigna offers since it only includes coverage for your home country and the country you’re a resident of (the United Arab Emirates, in this case).
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:
- Customer service available 24 hours 7 days a week
- Flexibility to make changes to and tailor the plan for your specific medical needs
- Includes coverage for Covid-19 and PRC tests
- No registration needed to get a quote
- They have a digital system that lets you easily find hospitals and clinics near you
- Normally, Cigna will pay health providers directly so you won’t need to request reimbursement
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:
- Some of their plans don’t cover maternity care
2. IMG 
One more well-known company in the world of international insurance is IMG, which has more than 25 years of experience and 3 subsidiaries worldwide.
IMG has several types of plans for you to choose from, whether as an individual or as an entire family. They also have a variety of plans made specifically for various types of travelers, including expats. You’ll see that you’ll have the option for both long-stay plans of a year or more as well as for much shorter time periods.
IMG’s website is easy to use and search plans on since you can use filters for date, plan length, destination, and much more. Beyond these filters, you can also add in personal details like your age and specific medical needs before seeing your coverage options.
This way, IMG can get you a personalized and detailed quote that lets you easily compare your options for plans and coverage and figure out which is best for you.
Just keep the specific details of each plan in mind since some of them don’t cover certain age groups and not all of them cover Covid-19.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with IMG:
- Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Flexibility to customize your plan and coverage limits
- Ability to choose from more than 17,000 in-network doctors
Cons of an international health insurance plan with IMG:
- They don’t have Covid-19 coverage, depending on the plan
- They don’t offer coverage for individuals above 75
Now Health International is dedicated to providing a service that is efficient, affordable, and easily within reach, as evident from its name. The company places a strong emphasis on fostering a positive customer relationship. They strive to present plan information in a clear and concise manner, and promptly resolve any inquiries through their dedicated customer support team.
Now Health plans are specifically tailored to meet the diverse challenges faced by those living abroad, providing guidance and ensuring access to quality healthcare services worldwide.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Now Health:
- Customized plans according to your needs
- Clear information and excellent customer service team
- Provides coverage in 194 countries and territories
- Plans with high coverage routine maternity coverage
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Now Health:
- You must wait a 12-month grace period to use maternity coverage.
- In some procedures, it is necessary to use the company’s reimbursement system, which means that you would have to pay for your care initially
4. Aetna (acquired by Allianz) 
Aetna is a leader and award winner in the area of international insurance. If you’re in search of safety and credibility in your choice of insurance provider before your move to Japão, Aetna is a good company to consider.
Although they don’t have a large variety of plans on offer, the ones they do have give you the flexibility to adjust and add on complementary coverage (like dental care). Depending on the policy, some include coverage of up to 5 million USD.
You can choose from family or individual plans, as well as include coverage for repatriation and medical evacuations.
As an expat, I can recommend the Aetna Pioneer plan. This plan has basic coverage of up to 1.75 million USD. Just fill out the short form on their website to get an exact quote and detailed information about all of the available policies.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:
- Maternity care is covered
- Aetna has a mobile app to help you easily find nearby medical services and providers
- Short-, mid-, and long-term plans to choose from
- Customer services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Pre-trip assistance available to help answer your questions on things like vaccines and accessing regularly-used medications while traveling
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:
- Few plans to choose from
- Cost of plans above the average of the other companies on this list
5. SafetyWing 
SafetyWing is a popular and well-known company particularly for insurance for digital nomads, given that they have insurance plans specifically for remote workers and companies, expats, and digital nomads.
One of the advantages of SafetyWing is that its policies are a little more accessible and easier to understand than the other options on the market. SafetyWing also covers children aged 2-10 for free if their caretakers have a plan with them.
Each plan has a specific price that depends on your age. The cheapest SafetyWing plan doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, but it does have coverage of up to 250,000 USD. Though you do have the freedom to add additional pre-existing condition coverage separately if you need to.
What I like most about SafetyWing is that they offer 30 days of coverage for free in your home country for every 90 days that you use it overseas, like in Japão or the EAU in general.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with SafetyWing:
- Modern, intuitive website that makes it easy to find policy info
- Customer services available 24 hours a day every day of the week
- 30 days of coverage given for free in your home country for every 90 days of coverage overseas
- They cover Covid-19 and treatments recommended by specialists
Cons of an international health insurance plan with SafetyWing:
- Plans aren’t quite as complete and tend to have lower coverage overall than some of the other options on this list
- The prices shown on the website don’t include taxes and fees
Global Underwriters is another well-known and very popular company when we talk about insurance. They have policies that serve immigrants, students, digital nomads, and expats with will be beginning a new life elsewhere in the world.
For anyone who is moving to Japão, I recommend the Diplomat long Term or the Diplomat International Plan. Both have very complete medical coverage that in general includes all that an expat may need in their new home.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwriters:
- Up to 1 million USD in medical coverage is included in the plans cited above, plus 1 million USD in coverage for cases of accidental death or dismemberment
- Client support available 24 hours a day each day of the week
- The plans I mentioned include emergency dental coverage, medical evacuation, and repatriation of mortal remains
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwriters:
- The Diplomat Long Term plan doesn’t protect travelers in Iran, Afghanistan, or Cuba
- The Diplomat International plan doesn’t have Covid-19 coverage
- Global Underwriters doesn’t work with residents of Australia, Iran, South Dakota, Maryland, or New York
Foyer Global Health is renowned for its international health insurance plans for travelers, expats, digital nomads, and immigrants.
They are a company with many, many plans to choose from (probably more than any other company you’ll find out there), as well as being a trustworthy organization (they are part of the larger European Foyer Group).
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:
- All plans include coverage for dental surgeries, appointments, and treatments
- Customer service available online by email or by phone 24/7
- Includes pre-trip preparation support on vaccinations and in preparing a first aid kit
- Coverage available for evacuation and repatriation
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:
- The limits of their plans aren’t very clear
Bonus
– GeoBlue 
GeoBlue has spent 20 years providing insurance plans with international health coverage.
But GeoBlue only allows their plans to be purchased by citizens and residents of the United States. So if you aren’t an American citizen or green card holder moving to Japão, you can skip this option.
GeoBlue has health plans for all types of travelers, including immigrants. Their Xplorer Essential plan is the one I most often recommend since it’s made for long stays overseas and has unlimited coverage.
But if you’re looking for a shorter plan, take a look at GeoBlue’s Voyager option. Just fill out the form on their website or reach out to an insurance broker to get a quote and more detailed information about their plans.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:
- They have an app with resources like telehealth
- 24/7 customer services
- All of their plans include unlimited coverage
Cons of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:
- Their plans are only available for residents of the United States or American citizens
- Not a lot of flexibility in their plans
- You need to fill out a form or contact an insurance broker to get more information and an exact budget for their plans
Types of Japanese Visa
Below are the 2 types of visas most used by new immigrants when entering Japan.
The two most common visas offered by the Japanese government are the work-holiday visa and the work visa.
The working-holiday visa is a special visa available only for some countries, such as France, Argentina and New Zealand, among other countries, as you can check here on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Unfortunately, this visa is not available for Brazilians, but if you have a dual citizenship from a country that is on the list, it is possible to apply through it, as long as you are living in that country.
This visa was created to bring Japan’s relations with other countries closer, allowing citizens to live and work in the country and vice versa.
This type of visa allows you to work part-time or full-time.
Japan work visa
In theory, all long-stay visas allow you to enroll in language courses, including a work visa. However, this visa depends on a company offering you a full-time job, so it will not be possible to focus your time and attention only on the language course.
Some language courses offer flexible study hours or part-time classes, but they are harder to find and more expensive. If you have the budget, you can take private lessons too.
Learning the Japanese language is very important to have a quality life in Japan and without knowing the language, it is much more difficult to get a job. So, our tip is that you learn the language in a reliable course before looking for a job in Japan.
In short…
Here are the 7 best health insurance companies for expats and immigrants moving to Japan:
- Cigna
- IMG
- Now Health
- Aetna (Allianz)
- SafetyWing
- Global Underwriters
- Foyer Global Health
Finally…
Deciding to start a life in the land of dreams can be complicated…I hope this article will help you to clear up many of your doubts and make this process easier! If you still have any questions about getting health insurance for your move to Japan (or moving abroad in general), let me know in the comments area below and I’ll get back to you!
Planning your next trip?
Then don’t forget travel insurance! You don’t want to get stuck paying a ton of money and ruining your trip if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. Our page with The 3 Best and Cheapest Travel Insurance on the Market can help you choose the right plan and will give you some discount coupons for the biggest insurance companies!
Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes.
Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets.
And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.
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