更新日：2024年1月1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.

To Page Top

National Health Insurance (kokuho)

National Health Insurance (NHI) is a mutual assistance program, in which every resident pays premiums to reduce the individual burden of medical expenses in the case of sudden injury or illness.

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

NHI premiums must be paid from the month you become eligible for NHI and not from the month you applied, even when applying late. Medical expenses incurred during the lapse in payment will not be covered by the insurance.

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
• When you lose or damage your insurance card

Required Items

You must have your Residence Card and My Number Card to apply for NHI. If someone in your family has already joined NHI then please bring their insurance card.
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

Insurance premiums are based on the amount of residence tax and other conditions.
The insurance premiums paid by everyone are an important financial resource, which is added to the national subsidy to provide NHI benefits for medical expenses or lump sum birth allowances.
*Premiums should be paid by the due date.
*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

You can receive the following treatments at a discount when you show your insurance card at the reception desk of the hospital you visit when injured or ill. 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

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.
  * 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.)

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.
You can use NHI for injuries caused by other people such as traffic accidents.
Report traffic accidents to the police and NHI immediately. NHI cannot be used if you have accepted money for medical expenses from the other party or reached an out-of-court settlement.

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.)

To Page Top