If you are an expatriate planning on long-term
residence in Japan you can, after a one-year stay, become a part
of Japan's national health program. Until that time, however,
you're going to need Japanese overseas travel insurance.
Some of the Japanese overseas travel insurance options include
not only trip or annual medical emergency coverage for travel
but also disability insurance, personal liability coverage and
term life insurance. Japanese overseas travel insurance's medical
coverage with some plans offers full (100 percent) reimbursement
for prescription medicine, medical care for diagnostic purposes,
hospital stay and even surgery. You'll also be covered in case
of terrorism and an evacuation to your home residence in the event
of medical or terrorist emergency.
One firm whose Japanese overseas travel plan we perused offered
coverage for those over 80 years old, difficult to find. The minimum
coverage time period for this plan is one week (seven days) with
a one-year maximum, although it can be renewed for a total of
three consecutive years of coverage. Coverage varies according
to your age. You must be at least two weeks old for any coverage.
If you are under 70 years of age you can choose coverage limits
that range from $50,000 to $1 million. Folks between 70 and 79
are excluded from coverage that exceeds $50,000, while those 80
or older can only be covered to a maximum of $10,000.
Let's look at a couple of quotes to see the variation in cost
for age, children, number of travelers, and participation in sports.
We'll also look at the cost for non-U.S. citizens. The first quote
is for a single U.S. resident 18-29 years of age traveling along
for one year and not wanting the rider for sports coverage. A
$1 million ceiling for Japanese overseas travel insurance coverage,
with a $250 deductible, is $576. Reducing the ceiling doesn't
seem like nearly as good a deal - the premium is $504, although
increasing the deductible to $1000 reduces the cost to $403.20.
That same Japanese overseas travel insurance coverage for non-U.S.
citizens is several hundred dollars more.
For a couple both 30-39 years old with
two children traveling with them, Japanese overseas travel insurance
does not come cheap. Assuming U.S. residence and a $500,000
ceiling with $500 deductible the hefty price tag for this coverage
is $1814.40. While this may seem excessive, consider the cost
of medical coverage for one or more of you, or for emergency
evacuation. You'll probably come to the conclusion that Japanese
overseas travel insurance is inexpensive as compared to the
alternative.
About the Author
Steve Cogger is an avid traveler offering a wealth of travel
information. For more information on travel insurance visit
http://www.1-Happy-Traveller.com
|
Health, Wealth, Travel and Technology Magazine