National Public Health Insurance

Eligibility: Foreigners who have completed alien registration (have a gaijin card) and have a visa to stay for more than one year and are not qualified to obtain employees' insurance (students, self-employed, etc.) can enroll in the national health insurance plan.

Application: Application for national health insurance coverage can be made at the national health insurance section (kokumin kenkou houkenka) of your local ward or municipality office.

You will need:

1. alien registration certificate (gaijin card)
2. seal (your signature will be accepted if you do not have a seal)
3. if you have been in Japan for less than one year, documental evidence that you will live in Japan for more than one year from then on (student identification card, research plan, contract)

Premiums: Health insurance premiums are determined by your previous year's resident's tax which is based on your previous year's annual salary. Since annual salaries fluctuate as well as tax rates your health insurance premiums will also fluctuate. For those who do not have a previous year's salary to base premiums on (newly arrived foreigners, students, and new college graduates) health insurance payments for the first year a very low. Many people are unpleasantly surprised when the bill for the following year is much higher. It will seem that their insurance became very expensive overnight.

Annual premium = resident tax * 1.07 + 16,8000 * number of family members.

The ceiling for annual premiums is 460,000 yen per family.

You will be billed quarterly. You also have the option to pay it all at once. Payment can be made at your local ward or municipality office, bank or have it automatically deducted from your bank account. (jidou furikomi)

Coverage:

  • If you submit your insurance card at the reception desk of a hospital or other medical institution that participates in the national health insurance plan your insurance will cover most sicknesses, injuries, and prescriptions up to 70 percent. It will also cover up to 70 for dependent family members (spouses children) enrolled in the national health plan.

  • Foreign students in Japan are also required to join the national health plan. However, the Association of International Education, subsidizes 80% of the 30% that the individual must pay.

  • It does not cover abortions, normal births, or cosmetic surgery. Though normal births are not covered residents of Tokyo city are awarded 240,000 yen after the birth and a 2,000 yen infant care allowance. This amount will vary for other municipalities.

  • If you pay more than 63,000 yen (or 35,400 for low-income earners) in medical expenses at one medical institution during one month, you can apply to your ward or municipal office for return of the amount in excess as a high-medical expense.

  • You may be asked to pay the full amount of medical expenses up front if you receive emergency medical treatment when you are not carrying your national insurance card. You should take the medical treatment receipt to your ward or municipal office and 70% of the amount covered by your insurance will be refunded to you.

  • In the case of a person's death, the nation health insurance plan will provide 50,000 yen for funeral expenses. This amount may vary for other municipalities.

    Insurance Card: One insurance card will be issued per household. Be sure to show it whenever you receive medical treatment.

    Notify your local ward or city office in the following cases:

  • When you leave the national health insurance plan to enroll in another public insurance plan, and when you move our of your ward or municipality or leave Japan.
  • When a baby is born.
  • When a household member dies.
  • When a change occurs in your address, head of household, or name (in the case of marriage or divorce).
  • When you lose the insurance card.


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