更新日：2026年3月18日

Health Insurance

Employee Health Insurance (shakai hoken)

Employee Health Insurance is a public insurance program for employees and their family members to receive medical benefits or allowance when needed (e.g. in cases where they are injured or become ill outside of work). Employers pay half of the insurance premiums in this program. Please inquire about your application with your employer.

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National Health Insurance (kokuho)

The national health insurance (kokuho) is a system that helps reduce medical burden, in which members contribute insurance premiums in advance so that they can receive medical services with peace of mind in case of a sudden illness or injury.

How Foreign Residents Join NHI in Hamamatsu

Those who have their Resident Record in Hamamatsu will join the NHI in Hamamatsu, with the following exceptions:

• Those enrolled into their workplace's health insurance and their dependents.
• Those insured through a health insurance association
• Those under health insurance for the latter-stage elderly
• Welfare recipients under the Public Assistance Act
• Foreign residents who do not have their Resident Record registered in Hamamatsu City
• Unsupported and institutionalized children under the Child Welfare Act.

When Procedures are Necessary

1. Joining NHI

• When you have moved to Hamamatsu
• When a NHI insurant gives birth
• When you withdraw from Employee Health Insurance or family members cease to be dependents
• When you stop receiving public assistance

The insurance premium will be paid from the date you received eligibility, not the date you applied. 

2. Withdrawing from NHI

• When you leave Japan
• When you move away from Hamamatsu
• In case of death
• When you enroll in Employee Health Insurance or family members become dependents
• When you start receiving public assistance

3. Other Occasions Requiring Submission of Documents

• When your address changes within Hamamatsu
• When the head of household changes
• When households separate or merge

Required Items

Applications for national health insurance require a personal identification document like a Residence Card or MyNumber card. If your family is enrolled in the national health insurance system, we will refer to your family's eligibility confirmation form. 
Please call to find out what is required for other procedures.

Contact

National Health Insurance Team service counter at all ward offices and administrative centers

Policies on Premium Payments

In order to receive medical services through the national health insurance, it is necessary to pay the insurance premium.
Since the insurance premium covers your medical, childbirth, and other related costs, please ensure to pay by the specified date.

*Insurance premiums are paid using the payment slips sent by Hamamatsu City, and the annual amount can be paid in up to ten installments.
*Payment for your pension insurance premium can automatically be paid from your bank account if you apply at your bank (bank transfer).
*If it is difficult to make the payments by the deadline, please consult either National Health Insurance Team service counter at all ward offices and administrative centers or the National Health Insurance & Pension Division.

Methods of Payment

1. Account Transfer Payment

Premiums can be paid by automatic transfer from a designated account. Please apply at a financial institution where you hold an account.

Required Items

Bankbook, personal seal used when opening the account, insurance card

2. Direct Payments at Financial Institutions or Convenience Store Using Payment Slips

The payment slips for insurance premiums will be sent to you. Please pay them at banks and post offices in Hamamatsu City, and at the counter of convenient stores.
* You can also pay using your smartphone, with credit cards, internet banking and digital currency. 

If you do not pay your insurance premiums by the deadline:

• Letters and Notifications for payment will be sent to you with a new deadline. Please make sure to pay by the deadlines given on these documents.
• Late fees will be charged and the amount you will have to pay increases.
• If you do not pay by the deadline given in the letters, your assets such as salary and savings will be seized.

Benefits of National Health Insurance

1. Medical Benefits

When you are unwell or injured, you will be issued with a MyNumber health insurance certificate or eligibility confirmation form at the hospital service counter. You can receive the following treatments at a discount. The difference will be covered by the NHI (Hamamatsu city).

• Examinations
• Treatments
• Medicine and injections
• Hospitalization and nursing care
• House calls or treatment from your doctor or nurse at home

* National health insurance can be used when you are injured by others such as in a traffic accident. If you get into a traffic accident, contact the police and national health insurance straight away. (You will not be able to use national insurance if you accept money for your medical treatment from the person who caused the accident, or agreed to settlement out of court. Please consult us before settlement out of court.)

2. Medical Expenses

• Should there be times when you require treatment at a hospital not affiliated with NHI or become ill while travelling so have to pay the full cost of the medical treatment, you can apply to NHI for reimbursement of the cost minus your deductable.
• You can receive a reimbursement from NHI, minus your deductable, for the cost of therapeutic devices, such as corsets, if they are deemed necessary by a doctor.

3. Lump Sum Birth Allowance

A person enrolled in national health insurance can receive a childbirth lump-sum allowance after giving birth. (Including those who had a still birth after 4 months of pregnancy.)

4. Funeral Allowance

If a person who is enrolled in national health insurance passes away, the person who arranged the funeral receives the money for the funeral.

5. High-Cost Medical Expenses

If your portion of medical expenses within a one-month period becomes too great, you can apply for and, upon acceptance, receive a refund of the portion exceeding the designated limit.

6. High-Cost Total Expenses for Nursing Care

If your total payments in a year for national health insurance and nursing care insurance exceed the designated limit, you can apply to have the excess reimbursed using the application form sent to you from National Health Insurance. (High-cost total expenses for nursing care).

7. Specialised Health Check-ups*

People between the ages of 40 and 74 who are enrolled in National Health Insurance (NHI / Kokuho) are able to avail of a specialised health check-up once a year.

In order to avoid lifestyle related illnesses, we recommend you go every year. A Health Check-up Voucher (for receiving the specialised health check-up) will be sent to applicable people's homes at the beginning of April.

However, if you enrolled into NHI midway through the year, please contact the "National Health Insurance Team service counter at all ward offices and administrative centers" or "National Health Insurance & Pension Division" at your ward office to receive your Health Check-up Voucher.

≪Fees (also on Health Check-up Voucher)≫
People who are 40 and 50 are free; 41-49 and 51-69 year olds pay 1,500 yen; and 70 and overs pay 500 yen.
*A specialised health check up = To check that you're not developing a lifestyle related  illness (e.g. Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Hyperlipidaemia etc.)

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