Insurance

[ Health Insurance ]

Japan has a public health insurance system operated by the municipalities, so that citizens can receive medical treatments without heavy financial burden if they are ill or injured. Those who meet all the following criteria must enter the national health insurance program. If you are a resident from abroad, please bring your Alien Registration Card and follow the procedures in the insurance and pension area of your municipality office.

When you enter the national health insurance program, you will receive a national health insurance card. You can receive medical treatment for disease or injury only by presenting the card and paying your allotment, determined according to your age.

Medical services which are covered / not covered by national health insurance

Medical services covered by national health insurance	Medical examinations
	Medical treatments and operations
	Supply of medicine and medical equipment
	Medical treatment and nursing at home
	Hospitalization and nursing (Food expenses charged separately)
Medical services NOT covered by national health insurance	Cosmetic surgery, medical check-up and immunizations
	Normal childbirth, abortion for economic reasons
	Injury and disease at work covered by workmen's compensation insurance
	Injury and disease caused by fighting or drinking

The allotment of the insured is 30 % of the medical expenses. If a patient is under 3 years of age, the allotment is 20%. If a patient is over 70 years of age, the allotment is 10% or 20% (depending on one's income status). The allotment for food expenses while hospitalized varies depending on the conditions.
There are also benefits in case of childbirth or death of the insured etc.

When covered under the national health insurance program, you must pay insurance fees. Insurance fees, which are charged to households, are calculated based on the amount of municipal and prefectural tax payed by each household and the number of members in that household.

[ National pension ]

Those between the ages of 20 and 60 who have registered as residents from abroad should enroll in the public pension system, in principle. Those employed by companies that have pension schemes must enroll in the employees' pension insurance system. Government employees must enroll in the mutual aid association pension system, and others should enroll in the national pension system at the insurance and pension area in their municipal office.

The national pension includes: a basic old-age pension for those who are more than 65 years old and have been enrolled in the system for more than 25 years, a basic disability pension and a basic survivor's pension. In addition, if you are a resident from abroad who has paid into a pension and is leaving Japan so will not receive benefits, you may receive a lump-sum payment due to withdrawal from your pension scheme.