Western Digital Technologies Health Insurance Association

Insured persons and dependents who undergo medical care not covered by insurance are responsible for paying all medical care costs, even combined treatments covered by insurance, as a general rule of health insurance.
However, even if an individual receives non-covered medical care, the Western Digital Technologies Health Insurance Association allows combined covered/non-covered medical care for medical services requiring assessment, the patient requested medical care system, and elective medical care defined by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. In this case, the insured person or dependent pays the full amount of the non-covered medical care but only the co-payment for general medical care covered by the health insurance as combined covered and non-covered medical care.

About Expenses for Combined Covered/Non-covered Medical Care

The three types of medical care services below are approved by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as combined covered and non-covered medical care.

Medical Services Requiring Assessment

Medical services for assessment refer to medical care requiring assessment from a stance of providing appropriate medical care efficiently in the hope of future health insurance coverage.

Patient Requested Medical Care System

The patient request medical care system verifies the safety and efficacy of advanced medical care requested by a patient to facilitate rapid adoption by local healthcare providers. This type of medical care presumes the goal of these treatments is to become covered by health insurance in the future.
Please consult with your family doctor or local healthcare provider to make a request.

Elective Medical Care

Elective medical care is a special medical service provided upon the request of a patient for treatments not covered by insurance.

Specific Examples of Expenses for Combined Covered/Non-covered Medical Care

• Some Dental Treatments
  Any materials used or treatments provided which are not covered by health insurance are medical services all done at one’s own expense with exception to cast crown restorations on the front teeth, metal base dentures, and other such treatments. Patients can undergo these treatments by paying the difference in price out of pocket within a range approved by the Western Digital Technologies Health Insurance Association.
• Patients Receiving Advanced
  Medical Care
  The Western Digital Technologies Health Insurance Association covers basic medical services, such as inpatient and drug charges, other than the medical treatments for any advanced medical care not covered by insurance benefits at university hospitals, advanced treatment hospitals and other such medical institutions. Insured persons and dependents must pay the portion of medical care not covered by insurance out of pocket. However, caution is required because some advance medical care is not eligible for this program.
• Inpatient Room Charges
  Health insurance covers a standard room during hospitalization, but patients may request a private room or other suite. In this case, the insured person or dependent is responsible for paying the difference in the inpatient room charges stipulated by the Western Digital Technologies Health Insurance Association.
  However, the Western Digital Technologies Health Insurance Association covers the extra costs for patients placed in a suite by the hospital or who need to be in intensive care units as a necessity of treatment.
• Patients Without a Referral Undergoing Initial Examinations at Large Hospitals
  Insured persons or dependents without a referral are responsible for paying the extra surcharges for the initial examination.
  Patients who undergo an examination at an advanced treatment hospital or hospital with at least 400 beds without a referral may request payment of a fixed amount mandated by elective medical care as a general rule.
• Inpatient Care for 180 Days or More
  Patients who seek hospitalization on their own accord even while the need for inpatient care is low are only eligible to receive 85% of basic hospitalization costs and are responsible for paying the difference.
• Patients Receiving Medical Care After Hours
  Insured persons and dependents are responsible for paying the surcharges of medical care provided after hours.
• Patients Receiving Medical Care by Appointment
  Insured persons and dependents are responsible for paying reservation fees when receiving medical care by appointment from a healthcare provider approved to offer medical services by appointment.