Foreigners in Japan and National Health Insurance

Japanese Nurse If you’re a foreigner living in Japan, you need to be enrolled in some national health insurance scheme, such as Kokumin Kenko Hoken 国民健康保険 or Shakai Hoken 社会保険. It’s the law. You can be covered by a private health insurance carrier in Japan, but only as a supplementary form of insurance.

If you work full time in Japan, by law your company must enroll you in Shakai Hoken (Japan social health insurance) and must pay an amount equal to the amount you pay each month, not only for the health insurance, but also Kosei Nenkin 厚生年金, the national social pension plan in Japan. Up to three years of pension payments made in Japan is refunded to foreigners after they leave the country.

For those not enrolled in Shakai Hoken, enrollment in Kokumin Kenko Hoken (Japan national health insurance - basic) is usually necessary. You can enroll in Kokumin Kenkou Hoken at your local city, town or ward office.

Remember, registration is the law and some people who first register after years of living in Japan without being enrolled in some national health insurance scheme are made to make back payments for as much as up to two years. Sucks to pay that when you weren’t even covered.

Japan national health insurance typically pays 70% of your doctor bill while you, the patient, pay 30%.

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3 Responses to “Foreigners in Japan and National Health Insurance”

Eric Patterson Says:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:13 am
I always make sure that my family gets Health Insurance from very reputable companies. health insurance is very important these days.;’`

[Reply]
Alex Case Says:
August 7th, 2010 at 10:37 am
All very true, but the other side of it is:
- You are unlikely to ever receive any Japanese pension that you are paying for, unless you do leave the country in less than 3 years
- Lots of people are still getting away with paying just one or none of national health insurance and pension

PS The other two comments here are spam.

[Reply]

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About Billy W

An American living in Tokyo. Can be seen bounding through Shinjuku Station most mornings, teeth gnashing, eyes bulging, a cup of cheap coffee clenched in one fist and a satchel in the other. God help those who don't see him coming.