National Health Insurance

For foreign residents living in Japan for a year or longer, registering for National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) is mandatory.

Individuals who are not insured by their current employer or recipients of welfare (Seikatsu Hogo) must register for National Health Insurance.

In the event of illness or injury, National Health Insurance registrants receive a number of provisions to cover medical expenses.

For additional information, please read more about "Registering for National Health Insurance."

Reporting National Health Insurance

When registering for and/or withdrawing from the National Health Insurance Program, please submit notification within 14 days. Examples are listed below.
* Please submit notification to the Insurance & Pension Division (Hoken Nenkin-ka) or any local Reception Windows (Madoguchi-ka).

When to Register for National Health Insurance

Please register for the National Health Insurance if any of the following apply:

Moving to Koka from out of town

Required: Proof of Address Change (Tenshu Shomei-sho)

Withdrawing from separate/private insurance provider

Required: Document verifying your withdrawal

When dependents are separated from your insurance plan

Required: Document verifying your withdrawal

New childbirth

Required: Document verifying birth, insurance card (Hoken-sho)

Lose Welfare Status (Seikatsu Hogo)

Required: Document verifying termination of welfare status (Hogo-haishi Kettei Tsuchi-sho)

Alien Registration (excluding short-term residency)

Required: Alien Registration Card (Gaikoku-jin Toroku-sho)

When to Withdraw from National Health Insurance

Please withdraw from the National Health Insurance if any of the following apply:

Moving away from Koka

Required: Insurance Card (Hoken-sho)

Registering for a different health insurance provider

Required: Work and National Health Insurance Card (as well as document showing new insurance registration)

Qualified for receiving Welfare (Seikatsu Hogo)

Required: Notice verifying welfare status (Hogo-kaishi Kettei Tsuchi-sho)

In the event of Insuree Death

Required: Insurance card, proof of death

Foreigner moving away from Koka 

Required: Insurance card, Alien Registration Card

Additional Information

You are required to report any of the following additional scenarios below:

Qualify for Retiree Healthcare System

Required: Insurance card, Annuity Bond (Nenkin Shosho)

Lose Retiree Healthcare Status

Required: Insurance card

Changes in Address, Name, or Head of Household

Required: Insurance card

Family separation or unification

Required: Insurance card

Loss or damage of insurance card (to the point where it can no longer be used)

Required: Insurance card (when damaged), proof of identification (i.e. driver’s license)

Separation from Koka City due to work or long-term travel

Required: Insurance card

Child resides in a separate municipality for study purposes

Required: Insurance card, student ID

Registering for National Health Insurance

For foreign residents living in Japan for a year or longer, registering for National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) is mandatory.
Individuals who are not insured by their current employer or recipients of welfare (Seikatsu Hogo) must register for National Health Insurance.
In the event of illness or injury, National Health Insurance registrants receive a number of provisions to cover medical expenses.
For additional information, please read more about in "Reporting National Health Insurance."

Medical Treatment Provisions
Medical costs at the percentages listed below must be paid by the insured party when your insurance card or pensioners’ benefits card (Kourei Jukyuu -sha sho) is presented during medical examinations.
● Children under 3 20%
● From ages 3 to 69 30%
● From age 70 to 74 10% (30% if insuree income is above a certain level)
(National Health Insurance Senior Pensioners’ Card (Kokumin Kenko Hoken Kourei Jukyuu-sha Sho) Individuals aged 70 through 74 

Medical Expense Provisions
After paying for the following medical expenses, you can receive a refund at a later date upon filing a request.
○ Receiving treatment when insurance card is not used for unavoidable reasons
○ Receiving treatment for sprains and fractures through physical therapy
○ Physician-approved expenses for massage, acupuncture, moxibustion, etc.
○ When treatment payments cannot be covered for blood transfusion
○ Medical examinations overseas
○ Orthopedic casts and other medical equipment/harnesses used for treatment

Provisions for Large Medical Expenses
When expenses for the medical treatment of a one month period exceed the pre-determined credit limit, you can receive reimbursement for the excess amount you paid.
Individuals under 70 years old that have received a certificate concerning the obligation limitation (Gendogaku Tekiyou Ninte-shou) only have to pay a medical copayment of medical expenses.