OOsaka

Do you use additional insurance on top of NHI as an international student?

  • March 18, 2026

Hey everyone,

I’ll be moving to Japan soon on a student visa (language school, ~1–2 years) and I’ve been looking into health insurance.

From what I understand, the National Health Insurance (NHI) covers 70% of medical costs, leaving 30% as out-of-pocket (自己負担). I’m trying to figure out whether it’s worth getting additional private insurance to cover that remaining 30%.

A bit about my situation:
International student (starting April)
Planning to stay at least 1 year (possibly 2)
No major health issues, but I want to avoid unexpected costs
Budget-conscious, so I don’t want to over-insure unnecessarily

For those already in Japan:

Did you get extra insurance on top of NHI?

Has it actually saved you money or been useful?

Any providers or types of coverage you recommend (or avoid)?

Is it common among students, or do most people just rely on NHI?

Trying to make a practical decision before I arrive. Appreciate any real experiences.
Thanks.

by OkNatural9856

4 comments

  1. There should be more students in r/studyinjapan than here, it’s a sub for residents, a lot of workers here.

  2. I have been on NHI as a student and I did not have any extra insurance. I’m not sure where you are from, but I do not find medical costs very expensive. For example, a check-up at the dentist with a cleaning cost me approximately 3000 yen. 

    How you can save money as a student is to make sure when you register for NHI, that they know you are a student with no income. I imagine if you are coming from abroad this might be automatic, but in my case I switched to NHI from shakai hoken and my monthly payments were calculated as if I still had an income, so I had to go back and file more documentation to lower it.

  3. Usually it is best to know what an insurance does not cover ?
    That is usually how I decide if I have to pay extra.

    For example does NHI cover for having medical cost if you have to go back to your country for medical purposes ?
    Does it cover if a family member has to come to japan in an emergency (like you are in a coma), etc.

  4. Decades ago, but I recall that the uni (actually, I think it might have been a nationwide NPO or somehow affiliated with the govt) had an extra insurance program at a very modest premium to cover co-pays. Mind you, the co-pay was still only 10% when I started uni here, so a lot has changed.

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