2020 Volume 80 Issue 6 Pages 531-535
In Japan, an increasing number of inbound tourists require emergency hospital visits; however, the cost associated with these visits has not been previously evaluated. Therefore, we researched the costs incurred for emergency visits by inbound tourists. This study retrospectively focused on medical costs incurred by international tourists who visited the Yamanashi Red Cross Hospital between January 2013 and March 2018. A total of 625 patient cases （291 males and 334 females） were included in this analysis. The mean age of the patient cohort was 36.4 years （range＝0-89 years）. The median fee was 10,420 JPY （range＝1,160-2,080,096 JPY）; at the 90th percentile, expenditures totaled 38,334 JPY. Six patients incurred costs of＞500,000 JPY; these patients spent up to 2,080,096 JPY on medical care. Thus, we conclude that traveler’s insurance is both recommended and desirable to ensure safe and cost-effective travels.
