Eligibility: Foreigners who have completed alien registration (have a gaijin card) and have a visa to stay for more than one year and are not qualified to obtain employees' insurance (students, self-employed, etc.) can enroll in the national health insurance plan.
Application: Application for national health insurance coverage can be made at the national health insurance section (kokumin kenkou houkenka) of your local ward or municipality office.
You will need:
1. alien registration certificate (gaijin card)
2. seal (your signature will be accepted if you do
not have a seal)
3. if you have been in Japan for less than one year,
documental evidence that you will live in Japan for
more than one year from then on (student identification
card, research plan, contract)
Premiums: Health insurance premiums are determined by your previous year's resident's tax which is based on your previous year's annual salary. Since annual salaries fluctuate as well as tax rates your health insurance premiums will also fluctuate. For those who do not have a previous year's salary to base premiums on (newly arrived foreigners, students, and new college graduates) health insurance payments for the first year a very low. Many people are unpleasantly surprised when the bill for the following year is much higher. It will seem that their insurance became very expensive overnight.
Annual premium = resident tax * 1.07 + 16,8000 * number of family members.
The ceiling for annual premiums is 460,000 yen per family.
You will be billed quarterly. You also have the option to pay it all at once. Payment can be made at your local ward or municipality office, bank or have it automatically deducted from your bank account. (jidou furikomi)
Coverage:
Insurance Card: One insurance card will be issued per household. Be sure to show it whenever you receive medical treatment.
Notify your local ward or city office in the following cases: