よくある質問

In the United States, there is essentially no system for comprehensive health checkups. There is no mechanism for conducting detailed, full-body screening tests for the purpose of early disease detection. Therefore, you cannot receive a comprehensive health checkup by visiting a general practitioner or hospital in the United States.However, some Japanese-affiliated medical institutions in various locations offer Japanese-style health checkup services. Please check the website or contact each facility for details.

American health insurance is for the diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury. It is illegal to perform comprehensive blood tests, X-rays, stomach examinations, or ultrasounds for mere screening purposes when there are no symptoms, and then claim insurance for those tests.“Physicians are required to only order those tests that they believe are medically necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. A physician who orders medically unnecessary tests for which insurance reimbursement is claimed may be subject to civil penalties.”This is a rule established by American health insurance, including the public insurance Medicare. It is not permitted to claim insurance for tests that are not necessary for diagnosing or treating the symptoms that the patient is actually experiencing. American health insurance does have a system called a Physical Examination, which is an annual check-up, but it only checks the minimum items stipulated by the insurance. For example, blood tests are limited to blood lipids such as cholesterol unless there is a special reason. Of course, chest X-rays and stomach examinations are not included. This is far from what we Japanese imagine as a health check-up, and it would not be an exaggeration to call it merely a physical measurement. People who are accustomed to the regular health check-up system that is commonplace in Japan will not be satisfied at all.Our center offers the traditional Japanese-style health checkup that you're familiar with. To provide high-quality health examinations without being limited by the constraints of American health insurance, we offer this service as a private service. We have developed efficient plans to detect diseases such as stomach cancer early, taking into account the specific health predispositions of Japanese people. In fact, a significant number of early-stage cancers have been detected through our services.In some cases, special agreements are made between companies and health insurance companies, which may cover at least a portion of a Japanese-style health checkup. With the exception of such cases, and in accordance with the rules of the American health insurance system, health checkups conducted at our center are generally not subject to insurance claims.

Depending on the type of health insurance you have, it may cover special Japanese-style health checkup services. Representative examples of such insurance companies include Cigna Global Insurance and Aetna International Insurance. However, even with these policies, coverage is only applicable if your employer has a special contract with the insurance company for health checkup benefits. For details, please contact your company representative or insurance company.

The level of busyness varies depending on the time of year. Normally, if you contact us 1-2 months in advance, we can make a reservation for your desired date. However, reservations are especially busy at the end of the year and the end of the fiscal year, so please apply 2-3 months in advance.

The duration of the checkup varies depending on the plan you choose. A basic plan takes just under an hour, but plans that include a transnasal gastroscopy will take approximately two to two and a half hours. Please inquire at the registration desk for more details.

You are welcome to bring small children with you. We have a private waiting room available for your use during your health checkup. You can also watch new Japanese TV programs on the TV. Internet access is available, so you can watch your favorite content on your own device.

If you would allow us to review your health checkup list, we can provide appropriate advice. The health checkup plans we offer are just a guideline; we will provide an estimated cost after reviewing your specified items. You can also choose which blood tests to include or exclude on the day of your checkup in consultation with the doctor in charge. We will advise you on recommended tests based on your age, gender, medical history, and any symptoms you are concerned about.

In the United States, mammography-based breast cancer screening generally begins at age 40. It is not usually permitted for women under 39 to undergo mammography. This is related to the significant radiation exposure involved in mammography. An exception is made for women with a family history of breast cancer within two degrees of kinship; they are permitted to begin screening at age 35. The age at which mammography begins is determined by weighing the individual's risk of developing breast cancer against the risk of developing breast cancer from radiation exposure. For similar reasons, testing facilities will not accept an order until exactly one year has passed since the last examination. Furthermore, there is no established practice in the United States of screening breast cancer with ultrasound. Ultrasound is considered a supplementary test only if a suspicious lesion is found on a mammogram.To detect breast cancer early, it is recommended that women over 30 perform a self-examination of both breasts every month. By continuing to perform regular examinations, you will become familiar with the structure of your own breasts, making it possible to notice small changes that are different from the usual, which can lead to the early detection of breast cancer.

The current standard agreement in the United States is as follows:Most cervical cancers are known to be caused by infection with the human papillary virus (HPV). Therefore, cervical cancer screenings begin when a woman reaches sexually active age. After that, if the annual screenings remain negative (no abnormalities) for three consecutive years, and both partners are monogamous, the interval between screenings can be extended to once every three years. However, if abnormalities such as ASC-US are found, it is recommended to also undergo a human papillary virus test. If the result is negative, a follow-up cervical cancer screening one year later is recommended; if the result is positive, a more detailed examination called a colposcopy at a gynecologist's office is recommended.Depending on your insurance policy, coverage may not apply until exactly one year has passed since your last check-up. Please contact your insurance company for details.