〔SHAKAI HOKEN〕
The National Health Insurance System aims to provide aid to help sick or injured people pay their medical expenses. Every resident of Japan (regardless of nationality) must enroll in a public medical plan so that he or she is covered by public medical insurance at all times. There are two types of medical insurance: Employees' Health Insurance (Kenko Hoken) which is mainly for office workers, and National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) for independent enterprises, farm workers and those who do not qualify for “Employees' Health Insurance” (Kenko Hoken).
| Who Must Enroll? | A company employee. ※If your company does not offer the Employees' Health Insurance plan, please apply for National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken). |
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| Insurance premium | The insurance premium is calculated based upon the worker’s monthly income and standard bonus. The premium is paid with the policy holder and employer each paying their portion. Normally, the premium is deducted from the employee’s salary and bonus. | |
| Coverage | The insurance covers 70% of all medical expenses (you pay 30% of expenses) | |
| Not covered | Medical checkups, vaccinations, childbirth, plastic surgery (including dental beautification),etc ※Warning: Employees' Health Insurance does not cover medical treatment for illness or injury suffered at work or on the way to work. |
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For further information, please consult your employer.
Links:
Social Insurance Agency Homepage - Re. Applying for Health Insurance and Welfare Pension Insurance
| Who Must Enroll? | All those who do not qualify for Employees' Health Insurance |
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| Eligibility requirements for foreigners | ・Documentation certifying that you will reside in Japan for one year or longer ・Completion of Foreign Resident Registration |
| Enrollment Procedures | All the application materials should be submitted to your local government. Required Items: ・Foreign Resident Registration Card ・Passport ・etc. ※If you are working for a company that does not offer Employees' Health Insurance (Kenko Hoken), you might need proof of your ineligibility from your company. For further information, please contact your local government. |
| One insurance card will be issued for each household. Be sure to show it whenever you receive medical treatment. Be sure to notify your local government in the following cases: ・If you leave Japan ・If you move out of (or into) your municipality ・If a child is born ・If a member of your household dies ・If a change occurs in your address, head of household or name ・If you lose the insurance card ・If you reach 75 years of age |
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| Insurance premium (tax) |
The insurance premium (tax) is calculated based upon your last year’s income and the number of members in your family. Normally, the insurance premium is paid on a monthly or quarterly basis. |
| Coverage and benefits | Children under 3 years old pay 20% of all medical expenses. Persons between 3 and 69 years old pay 30% of all medical expenses. Persons over 70 years of age pay 10% of all medical expenses. Income earners above 70 years old pay 20% of all medical expenses. In the following cases you will recieve limited financial aid: ・If a child is born ・If a family member dies ・If your medical expenses in a given month exceed a designated amount |
| Not covered | Medical checkups, vaccinations, childbirth, plastic surgery (including dental beautification) ※Warning: National Health Insurance does not cover medical treatment for illness or injury suffered at work or on the way to work. |
For further information, please contact your local government.
Links:
Social Insurance Agency Homepage - Re. Applying for Health Insurance and Welfare Pension Insurance
Every Japanese resident must enroll in the Japanese Pension System. The purpose of the system is to ensure a stable livelihood in the case of old age, disability or death. The National Pension Plan (Kokumin nenkin) provides a common basic pension for everyone. The Employees' Pension Plan (Kosei nenkin hoken) for salaried employees provides a pension that is the same amount as the basic pension plus a sum calculated based on the individual's previously earned income.
| Who Must Enroll? | All company employees who are under 70 years of age and who have Welfare Pension Insurance. | |
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| Premium | The premium is calculated based upon the worker’s monthly income and standard bonus. It is paid with the policy holder and employer each paying a portion. Normally, the premium is deducted from the employee’s salary and bonus. | |
| Benefits | Old Age Pension | This pension is paid out from the age of 65. The amount received is based upon how long you paid into the Employees' Pension Plan. |
| Disability Pension | This pension is paid in the event of the insured person suffering disability due to illness or injury. | |
| Bereaved Family Pension | This pension is paid to the bereaved family in the event of the death of the insured person. | |
For further information, please contact your employer.
Links:
Social Insurance Agency Homepage - Re. Applying for Health Insurance and Welfare Pension Insurance
| Who Must Enroll? | All people between the ages of 20 and 59 residing in Japan, regardless of nationality. | |
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| Eligibility requirements for foreigners | Completion of Foreign Resident Registration. | |
| Premium | Everyone pays the same premium. The request for payment will be sent by the Social Insurance Bureau. It is strongly advised to pay before the due date. ※For inquiries regarding insurance, please consult the Social Insurance Office. |
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| Benefits | Basic Old Age Pension | This pension is paid beginning at the age of 65, provided that the insured person has paid the premium for more than 25 years. |
| Basic Disability Pension | This pension is paid in the event of the insured person suffering disability due to illness or injury. | |
| Basic Bereaved Family Pension | This pension is paid to the bereaved family (either directly to the children or to the child’s widowed parent) in the event of death of the insured person. | |
For further information, please contact your local government or social insurance office.
Japanese National Pension system
If a foreigner has paid into the Welfare Pension Insurance Plan or National Pension Plan for at least six months and returns to his or her home country without receiving a pension, a lump-sum reimbursement will be made if a claim is filed within two years of the date of leaving Japan.
Before leaving Japan, it is necessary to request a lump-sum reimbursement application form from the local government or Social Insurance Bureau. After departure, the form should be sent back to the Social Insurance Bureau with the following documents: the blue pension book showing proof of payment into the national pension plan, a copy of your passport and bank account information.
・Social Insurance Bureau
3-5-24 Takaidonishi Suginami-ku, Tokyo
〒168-8505
Phone 03-3334-3131
Pension Line: Tel.# 0570-05-1165 - For domestic (from within Japan) inquiries only.
The purpose of the Long-Term Care Insurance System is to provide the necessary nursing service in synthetic way to enable a person in the conditions requiring care / support to continue living independently in the area to which one got used.
In order to use this system,the insured person must apply to his or her local government. Please inquire details of the local government office where you live.