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Health Insurance System in Japan

All residents in Japan must be insured by either "Company's health insurance"which you can apply through your company, or "National health insurance" which you can apply through your municipalities. When you applied, an insurance card is issued to you and most of your hospital fees is covered by the insurance and you only pay a small portion of the fees when you have to be hospitalized due to injury or illness.
Your company applies the company health insurance when you are hired, and it covers yourself and your dependants.

1. Application of the National Health Insurance

National health insurance can be applied for those who have obtained an Non-Japanese Registration Certificate but does not have a health insurance. Apply it with your Non-Japanese Registration Certificate at the national health insurance section at your municipal office.

2. Who Cannot Apply?

(1) A tourist, a short term resident who stays less than a year and a diplomat. However, for those who are short term resident, it can be applied if the person extends the stay more than a year. In the case, a proof of extension is required. (A proof issued by school, or company, or other proof that prove the extension.)

(2) A person who has a company health insurance policy and its dependants.

3. Termination

If the following conditions are met, your policy must be terminated. So in such occasion, take necessary procedures at the national health insurance section at your municipal office within 14 days after the occurrence, and return the insurance card to the office.

(1) When you move out from the city. (You can apply new insurance at the new place.)

(2) When you obtain a company health insurance. (Bring the insurance card you got from the company and national health insurance card with you.)

(3) When you passed away.

(4) When you leave Japan.

4. Other Cases That Requires the Reporting

Reporting is required for the following case and necessary procedures have to be taken. When reporting, bring the National Health Insurance card and Non-Japanese Registration Certificate.

(1) In case of address change due to a relocation within the city.

(2)When you terminate your company health insurance.

(3) When the household or the name of household is changed.

(4) Any items in the Non-Japanese Registration Certificate are changed.

(5) When you have a new child.

5. Insurance Card

When you applied the national health insurance and obtained a policy, your household will get a insurance card proving that you and your family members are the participants of the national health insurance in Narita city. You must show it whenever you visit a hospital. Please keep and handle it with special care.

6. Medical Benefits

You receive a treatment at the hospital that accepts national health insurance policy. You should pay 30% of the medical fee to the hospital. If the patient is over 70 years old, he/she pays 10 to 20% depends on the age-category or income of a household, and less than 3 years old, 20%. Narita city owes the rest to the hospital. (Acupuncture, moxa cautery and massage may not be covered by the insurance.)

7. If You Receive a Treatment without bringing the Insurance Card

You are to pay the full amount of medical fee to the clinic at that time. Later, you should apply the necessary documents to the national health insurance section at your city office. Afterwards, eligible amount of money may be paid back from National Health Insurance.Medical fee of your foreign travel are paid to you when you apply the required documents as well. (The documents should be translated into Japanese.)

8. Payment for the Large Amount of Medical Fee

When you paid a large amount of medical fees for a hospitalized or outpatient treatment, the fees are paid back to you if you take a necessary procedures at the national health insurance section at your municipal office. Keep the receipts of medical fees you paid in a safe place.Your City mails the notification to the applicants. Please come to the City Office with it.

9. When You Have a New Child

When an insured delivered a baby, a maternity support for a newborn baby is paid to the head of household. Apply it to the national health insurance section at your municipal office with your insurance card and maternity handbook.

10. When the Insured is Passed Away

The funeral support is paid to the person who conducted the funeral ceremony. Apply it to the national health insurance section at your municipal office with the insurance card of the person who passed away and a seal of the person who conducted the funeral