Q. If You Get Sick During Your Language Study Abroad, What Should You Do at the Hospital?

Hello, this is Awork Academy.

In recent years, entry restrictions to many countries have been significantly relaxed, and more and more people are considering studying a language abroad in various countries.

It would be ideal if everything went according to plan, but in an unfamiliar overseas environment, it's not uncommon to fall ill or run into unexpected trouble.

Of course, it's best if nothing happens at all, but it's very important to be prepared just in case.

In Japan, you can go to the hospital without much worry, but in many countries overseas, "going to the hospital" can mean high medical costs, and quite a few people end up hesitating to see a doctor.

For example, even at a small clinic like a local doctor's office in Japan,
just one consultation with a doctor can cost around 10,000 yen (roughly 100 dollars) in some cases

What should you do if you get sick abroad?

We get asked this question often, and
what covers that worry is "insurance."

Especially for long-term language study abroad, having insurance is practically essential.

This time,
we'll cover everything from how to choose insurance for language study abroad students, to how to file an insurance claim, to how to use hospitals overseas
in one complete guide.

About getting insurance and filing claims

Q1. What kind of insurance should I get?

A. Choose insurance that matches your type of visa.

Student visa (long-term study abroad): Study abroad student insurance

Tourist visa (short-term study abroad): Travel insurance or study abroad student insurance

Working Holiday: Working Holiday-specific insurance

Insurance conditions vary depending on age, gender, coverage period, and coverage content.
Be sure to check the details carefully and choose the insurance that's right for you.

Q2. What's the difference between insurance from Japan and local insurance?

A. You can get either insurance from Japan or local insurance.

However, local insurance often tends to have

higher premiums

weaker coverage compared to insurance from Japan

so unless your school specifically requires otherwise,
we recommend getting insurance from Japan.

Examples of insurance companies commonly used by language study abroad students from Japan:

Tokio Marine & Nichido

KB Insurance

Sompo Japan, and others

*
If you hold an Australian student visa,
enrolling in OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is mandatory.
Providers include Medibank, Allianz, Bupa, NIB, and others.

Q3. What happens if I go abroad without insurance?

A. In many English-speaking countries, study abroad students are required to have insurance.

At the initial orientation (OT) of a language school,
you'll typically be asked to submit proof of insurance.

If you don't have insurance,
the school may guide you to sign up for local insurance.

Also, some university-affiliated language schools and certain private language schools
may not accept insurance from Japan, so it's important to check in advance.

Q4. How do I file an insurance claim for hospital costs?

A. In principle, it's "pay upfront, then claim later."

For high medical costs,
by contacting the insurance company in advance,
in some cases the insurance company will pay directly.

*Details vary by insurance company.

General flow for filing an insurance claim

Prepare the necessary documents
　・Medical statement
　・Receipt for medical costs
　・Prescription and receipt for medication costs (if applicable)

File a claim with the insurance company

Review by the insurance company

Insurance payout transferred

*It typically takes about 2 to 4 weeks from filing the claim to receiving the refund.

How to use hospitals overseas

Overseas medical facilities are generally divided as follows.

Private practice: Clinic

General hospital: Hospital

Emergency care: Emergency Room

Which hospital should you go to?

Unless it's an emergency, it's common to visit a clinic first.

If necessary, the doctor will give you a referral letter and direct you to a general hospital.

*Often it ends with just a light examination and a prescription,
so you may feel a gap if you expect the thorough treatment you're used to in Japan.

Do you need an appointment?

It depends on the country and region, but we recommend making an appointment in advance.

Some hospitals, like walk-in clinics in Canada, can be used without an appointment,
but making one will shorten your wait time.

Since clinic hours vary by hospital, it's a good idea to check in advance on Google Maps.

Know roughly how much medical costs will be

Clinic visit: around 10,000 yen

Emergency room: around 100,000 yen

Ambulance use: tens of thousands of yen or more

*In most cases you'll need to pay upfront first.

Useful things to prepare in advance

• If you're taking medication in Japan: an English-language prescription
  　→ This helps when seeing a local doctor or getting medication with the same ingredients.

Summary｜Being prepared for the "what if" matters when studying abroad

This time, we covered insurance and how to use hospitals if you get sick while abroad.

Falling ill in an unfamiliar country can also be a big mental burden.
That's exactly why advance preparation and knowledge are so important.

We hope this information brings peace of mind to everyone preparing for language study abroad.

On Awork Academy's official website,
we post language study abroad information for various countries.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime.