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Your guide to how much to pay out-of-pocket for PCR tests in Japan.

By on March 12, 2020

Japan is seeing a high demand for COVID-19 testing. If one day you wake up with respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, common symptoms of Coronavirus according to WHO, you’ll likely wonder how you can get a PCR test in Japan and how much it involves.  In more severe cases, WHO says,”infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.” Additional minor symptoms observed in China-specific cases were mentioned in the WHO-China Joint Mission on coronavirus disease such as “sore throat (13.9%), headache (13.6%), myalgia or arthralgia (14.8%), chills (11.4%), nausea or vomiting (5.0%), nasal congestion (4.8%), diarrhea (3.7%), and hemoptysis (0.9%), and conjunctival congestion (0.8%).”

Don’t worry, because under Act. no. 114 “Infectious Diseases Law” of Japan, everyone with insurance can get a PCR test. Previous to the coronavirus scare, this wasn’t included in the subsidy but now, it is. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has published the costs involved on its website in Japanese.  The goal  is to reduce the burden of costs to those enrolled under the health insurance scheme by subsidizing the cost of PCR test. Unrelated check ups are not included in the scheme.

What is a PCR test?

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a series of tests to analyze a short sequence of DNA (or RNA) from samples taken from you. In China,they use blood samples from which antibodies mined are analyzed if they are specific to the COVID-19. The throat swab is also used for PCR testing.

How much should people with health insurance pay out-of-pocket for 1 pcr test?

A (FOR THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE 30% TO MEDICAL INSURANCE)
・ 5,850 yen – children from age 6  (or before attending compulsory education) up to 70-year old adults.

・ 4,500 yen – Those aged 70 years or older who have the same level of active income (standard salary of 280,000 yen or more or taxable income of 1.45 million or more a year).

B (FOR THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE 20% TO MEDICAL INSURANCE)

・ 3,900 yen – children from age 6  (or before attending compulsory education) up to 70-year-old adults.

・ 3,000 yen – Those between 70 – 75 years old

C (FOR THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE 10% TO MEDICAL INSURANCE)
・ (1) 1,950 yen or (2) 1,500 yen – Those 75 years old and above  1) is when people who fall under “C” category are transported to a facility other than the designated infectious disease medical institution where the specimen was collected and tested, and (2) applies to other cases.

 

 

What to do and where to call in cases of suspected COVID-19 infection.

 

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