In the Case of Injury and Illness (emergency care)

National Health Insurance

People who are not part of the health insurance plan at their workplaces and plan to remain in Japan for more than one year must sign up for the national health insurance system. After signing up for the national health insurance system, the individual will be issued a national health insurance certificate. The certificate can be used to receive medical care at partial cost of the treatment.

■Benefits

(1)When an individual presents the national health insurance certificate at the time he or she receives medical care, the insurance will pay for up to 70% of the medical fees for the treatment. The remaining 30% is borne by the individual.

(2)In the event that the amount of the medical fee borne by the individual exceeds a certain fixed amount, the excess will be refunded to the individual at a later date. (A report must be filed with receipts and personal seal/signature.)

(3)When a person with health insurance gives birth, she will receive a one-time childbirth allowance, and when someone with health insurance dies, a funeral allowance is paid. (A report must be filed with personal seal/signature.)

(4)When you have a prosthesis made under the instruction of a medical facility, you will have a pay back in accordance with your burden ratio. (A report must be filed with receipts and personal seal/signature.)

○One national health insurance certificate is issued to each household

Subscription to the national health insurance system is based on households. Generally, “household” is defined as a family. Non-family members who share the same residence and possess separate resident certificates are considered separate households; however, if a non-family member is included in an individual’s resident certificate, he or she is considered part of the individual’s household.

Medical care (medical terms)

■When receiving treatment

　(1)Bring your national health insurance certificate to the front desk of the medical facility

　(2)When your name is called, proceed to the examination room where you will describe your symptoms.

　(3)Following the examination, wait until your name is called, at which time you will pay for the treatment and receive any medication that has been prescribed. (There are cases where you receive medication and pay for it at another facility outside the hospital.)

■Types of medical facilities and departments

There are general hospitals that contain various medical departments as well as clinics that are operated by individual specialists. In order to receive treatment correctly and quickly when you are ill, know beforehand the medical facilities available to you.

English	Japanese pronunciation	日本語
Internal medicine	naika	内科
Surgery	geka	外科
Pediatrics	shonika	小児科
Ophthalmology	ganka	眼科
Dentistry	shika	歯科
Otorhinolaryngology	jibiinkoka	耳鼻咽喉科
Dermatology	hifuka	皮膚科
Obstetrics and gynecology	sanfujinka	産婦人科
Urology	hinyokika	泌尿器科
Respiratory medicine	kokyukika	呼吸器科
Circulatory medicine	jyunkankika	循環器科

■体の名称

English	Japanese pronunciation	日本語	English	Japanese pronunciation	日本語
Head	Atama	頭	Eye	me	眼
Nose	Hana	鼻	Ear	mimi	耳
Throat	Nodo	喉	Mouth	kuchi	口
Hand	Te	手	Shoulder	kata	肩
Neck	Kubi	首	Chest	mune	胸
Back	senaka	背中	Lower back	koshi	腰
Abdomen	Onaka	お腹	Leg	ashi	足
Knee	Hiza	膝

■薬の種類・用法

English	Japanese pronunciation	日本語
Oral medication	naiyo-yaku	内用薬
Medication for external application	gaiyo-yaku	外用薬
Cold medicine	kazegusuri	風邪薬
Headache remedy	zutu-yaku	頭痛薬
Medicine to reduce fever	genetsuzai	解熱剤
Ointment	nurigusuri	ぬり薬
Eyedrops	megusuri	目薬
X time(s)a day	ishi-nichi X-kai	1日○回
X day dosage	X-nichi bun	○日分
before meals	syokuzen	食前
after meals	syokugo	食後
between meals	syokkan	食間

■症状

English	Japanese pronunciation	日本語
My [part of body] hurts	[ ] ga itai	○○が痛い
I have a fever.	netsu ga aru	熱がある
I have chills.	samuke ga suru	寒気がする
I have diarrhea.	geri wo shiteiru	下痢をしている
I have pains in my chest.	mune ga kurushii	胸が苦しい
I have no appetite.	syokuyoku ga nai	食欲がない
Sprain	nenza	捻挫

Medical care on holidays and during the night

Most hospitals are closed on holidays and during the night. In the case of emergency, contact the following facilities. Be sure to bring your health care insurance certificate.

■Day time on holidays---Nisshin City Emergency Clinic (0561) 73-7555

■Night---Emergency Medical Center (0561) 82-1133

Emergency care

No matter what time of the day or night, or whether it is on weekdays or on weekends, people who require emergency medical care can call 119.

■Example conversation

○If a person who speaks Japanese is near you, ask for his or her help

(1)Fire station: “This is 119, Nagakute Fire Station. A fire, or emergency?”

　→Clearly state “Emergency.”

(2)Fire Station: “Where did it happen? Can I have your name?”

　→State your address unhurriedly, starting with “Nagakute.” Also say your name clearly. If possible, mention some landmarks nearby.

(3)Fire Station: “What happened? How old is the person?”

　→Briefly state age, sex, and the incident (disease, traffic accident, injury, and so on).

(4)Fire station: “Please elaborate on the situation of the patient.”

　→Explain the name of the patient, disease history, family doctor, and the present situation (consciousness level, respiratory situation, chief complaint, etc.) as far as you know.

(5)Fire station: “Through which phone are you calling?”

　→If you are calling from home, tell the number of your home phone. If your are calling from a cellular phone, tell the number of your cell phone. If you are calling from a public phone, say “Public phone.”

(6)Follow the instruction of the staff.

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