Examples of the fees with Japanese Health Insurance
Japanese Health Insurance covers the consultation in Japanese. The translation service fee is necessary for those who would like to have their consultation in other languages than Japanese by law (Health Insurance Act (Act No. 70 of April 22, 1922). The law applies to anyone regardless of an ethnic group or nationality including Japanese. Many other clinics do not charge for English consultation.
Fees of English Consultation
Initial visit 6,600 yen
Subsequent short-term visit 4,400 yen
Example 1 Consultation for eczema and prescription of Meiser ointment 5g (difluprednate; steroid) and Hirudoido Sort Ointment 0.3% 25g (Heparinoid cream; moisturizer)
Initial visit:
Around 8,000 yen with English consultation
Around 1,000 yen with Japanese consultation
Each subsequent visit with the same prescription:
Around 5,000 yen with English consultation
Around 600 yen with Japanese consultation
Example 2 Consultation of a benign skin tumor on the face less than 2cm and surgical removal
Initial visit:
Around 9,000 yen with English consultation
Around 3,000 yen with Japanese consultation
Visit for surgery:
Around 10,000 yen with English consultation
Around 6,000 yen with Japanese consultation
Visit for removal of stitches/pathology report:
Around 5,000 yen with English consultation
Around 400 yen with Japanese consultation
Example 3 Total body skin check
Around 18,500 yen with English consultation
Around 12,000 yen with Japanese consultation
Note: Separate fee incurs at the pharmacy when receiving medicine. There is no translation fee at the pharmacy. Fees are as of March 1, 2024, which may change without notice. Consultation in Japanese will not provide any services in English. The use of translation device/smart phone App/interpreter over the phone are not allowed for safety reasons, except for deaf patient or those with speech disorder, although other clinics may allow those modes of communication. The fees listed here are examples of the cases that Japanese Health Insurance covers 70% of the designated medical cost.