My son is going to Japan for 10 weeks. He is no longer a student, but he is on our health insurance (blue cross/blue shield). Should he have some kind of supplemental policy for while he is there?
If yes, if anyone has any recommendations for a good one, I would appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.
This website is handy: https://www.insuremytrip.com
It’s kind of like the Kayak of travel insurance. You can compare coverage and see ratings on different companies.I think it is wise to get the kind of travel insurance that covers emergency medical and evacuation, among other things. It’s not too costly.
Medical care is very inexpensive in Japan. If your son needs any health care, he can pay, get any receipt translated, and then submit as out of network with his American health insurance.
My d used what @doschicos recommended, but I can’t remember specifics except my d read some reviews of people who had used the plan in Japan and had good experiences.
The plan we got wasn’t expensive and it was important for peace of mind.
We don’t have the kind of BCBS plan that would have given full reimbursement. And things can happen that would be hard to pay up front.
Usually medical care in Japan is much cheaper but it can still be a lot to pay if something comes up. They hospitalize for things they wouldn’t here and keep people longer. They also have patients come back frequently, whereas here one visit would be enough for the same thing.
Check your BC/CS as ours reimburses for overseas expense although I believe we would have to pay the foreign hospital first. One of my kids lives abroad and is on the country’s national health insurance which is excellent for in country care, but does not cover out of country. He gets travel insurance whenever he travels, even back to the US to visit dear old Mom and Dad. I’ve encouraged that practice for peace of mind, although it may be my peace of mind rather than his! His travel insurance is available through his resident country insurance provider, of course, that doesn’t help your need for suggested providers!
You must have been watching Lost in Translation. There is a hospital scene there when Scarlett Johansen sprains her ankle.
Keep in mind that if a kid has pre-existing conditions, trip insurance usually won’t cover them. That’s why we’re in a bind with my son who’s studying in Lebanon. I talked to many companies, and none of them would include coverage for his bleeding disorder. I couldn’t even get medical evacuation coverage for him. Once they heard, “Factor XI Deficiency,” that was it. 
@LBowie, I’m curious about the movie comment. Not really sure how that relates to the post and what I’m missing.
I really have to see that movie again. I remember watching it in Japan and laughing about how in target it was about some things.
I had seen the movie a long time ago when it came out, but we watched it again after we got back from Japan last year. We spent a night in the same hotel as they do in the movie and went to the same bar. The hospital scene is kind of funny because there is a lot lost in translation. Or just lost. My favorite line in the movie is when the Bill Murray character is on the phone to his wife and tells her when he gets back he wants to “eat more Japanese” as in more fish and vegetables. My husband and I had been saying the same thing!
OP here. No pre-existing conditions, and we have good insurance.
I think I will suggest he go with the less than $100 policy, as opposed to the 400 plus.
Thanks everyone.
I think we paid about $100 and the plan seemed fine…and fortunately d never had to use it!
Also, it’s a good idea to bring a supply of over the counter meds. D brought ibuprofen, but then she got hives and I really wish she had brought Benedryl or Zyrtec, too.
Can I add dulcolax to the list of suggested meds? Those slightly unnerving light up/wash up toilets can precipitate irregularity!
We brought stuff for constipation, runs, flu, bacterial infection, hives, nausea and a few more things when traveling out of country, as well as extra of all our Rx, including Epi-Pen. Our BCBS does cover a % of usual and customary charges and for evacuation, we had purchased our travel with Chase Sapphire Preferred which provided some coverage.
Honestly, all the over the counter stuff you can buy when there. (Of course, something prescription would be a different story.) No need to lug around stuff you might not need for 10 weeks. Japan isn’t a backwater. 
The stuff I mentioned was what my allergist insisted I bring to SKorea and then I took it all to Taiwan the following year. Thankfully, only the Rx I normally use was ever needed.
Where is he going? Amazing country. I was stationed there for two years. They did recomend travel insurance when family members visited (non-ID card holders).
Please be very careful when making suggestions about what medications people should take to Japan. I would recommend the OP and others to read the information from the website of the US Embassy in Japan and the Japanese Embassy in Australia.
https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/doctors/importing-medication/
http://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/visa_medicine_en.html
I am copying and pasting one particular section from the Japanese embassy website. Note that the last one is a decongestant found in OTC drugs like Sudafed and Zyrtec-D.
DO NOT BRING THESE MEDICINES INTO JAPAN. IF YOU DO YOU WILL BE ARRESTED.
It is illegal to bring any medicine under this category. If you do, you will be arrested.
E.g. Dexamphetamine (treats ADHD, Narcolepsy etc…)
Alternatives: Ritalin, Concerta or Vyvanse. Ritalin and Concerta contain Methylphenidate which means they are classified as Psychotropic medicines. If you intend to bring more than 2.16g, you will need to apply for a Yakkan Shoumei. Vyvanse is classified as a general prescription medicine, and you will need to apply for a Yakkan Shoumei if you intend to bring more than a month’s supply.
E.g. Amphetamine & Methamphetamine
E.g. Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride (Cold & Flu Medicine)
Wow–good to know and be reminded about checking before bringing OTC Rx into other countries.
Oh sure you can buy it! But good luck figuring out the packaging if the pharmacist does not speak English and you don’t know the generic names of drugs.
@doschicos There are plenty of drugstores in Japan but sometimes the stuff you need isn’t as available OTC or it’s not as effective.
Often, if you are with Japanese, they will insist you go to the doctor rather than go to a pharmacy.
When my D had hives, she wound up taking allergy medicine one of the Japanese family members she was staying with had bought in Turkey. They were against her going to a pharmacy, which is consistent with my experience.
I personally wouldn’t lug a lot but I’d take the stuff we might normally use, like pain reliever and allergy meds.
My dd completed a form online to bring in her Rx stuff. It might not be necessary for a short visit but D was staying for a while and needed a supply of her usual meds to cover that time.