Medical Insurance

Medical Insurance

All residents of Japan, regardless of nationality, must join a public health insurance plan. Health insurance plans include Employees’ Health Insurance for workers and their dependents and National Health Insurance for others. (People 75 years and older join the Long-life Medical Insurance System.)
For workers employed by a company with Employees’ Health Insurance, the company will enroll the worker. The employer pays 50% of the insurance premiums and the employee pays the other 50%. In most cases, the percentage paid by the employee is automatically deducted from the employee’s wages. For National Health Insurance, you should enroll at your municipal government office within 14 days of registering your residency or of quitting Employees’ Health Insurance. The municipal government office will send you regular bills for the insurance premiums which you can pay through your bank or postal account or at a convenience store.
When you join one of the above insurance programs, you will receive a health insurance card. When you show your health insurance card, that amount will be deducted from your medical bill so be sure to show it to the receptionist whenever you visit a hospital or medical facility. Under National Health Insurance, people from grade one in elementary school to the age of 69 pay 30% of the costs while the insurance covers the remaining 70%. Health insurance covers not only regular medical treatment but also a portion of the cost for such things as high-cost medical expenses and childbirth.

For more detailed explanations on Public Medical Insurance see Section 2 Medical Insurance in Chapter 6 Medical Services of the Guidebook on Living and Working on the website of the Immigration Services Agency.

Long-term Care Insurance

The Long-term Care Insurance System was established to provide support from society as a whole to the elderly when they reach a stage where they need long-term care to continue with their daily lives as well as for others who need long-term care. Everyone aged 40 years and over contributes to the system by paying a premium. Anyone aged 40 and over is eligible to receive benefits if they are judged to need long-term care. If you are eligible, you will pay only 10% to 30% of the medical costs. Foreigners from the age of 40 up to and including 64 who belong to a public health insurance system in Japan and also any foreigner registered as a resident in Japan who is 65 or over is enrolled in Long-term Care Insurance. As with other health insurance systems, if you are employed, the premium is usually deducted automatically from your wages. If you are 65 or older, the premium for Long-term Care Insurance is deducted from the pension you receive.
The process for using the long-term care service is as follows:
① Apply for a certificate for long-term care / support need at your local municipal office in your area. Your application needs to be approved.
② Request a care plan from a care manager or a community general support center in your area.
③ Service is provided according to your care plan.