National Health Insurance

• Mid to long term residents who will stay in Japan for at least 3 months must be covered by National Health Insurance (NHI).
• NHI applicants must apply at the Municipal Office of the ward where they completed their Notification (Change) of Place of Residence procedures.
• NHI users will only have to pay 30% of their medical costs. Depending on age there may be exceptions.
• NHI users must pay insurance premiums relative to their income listed on their tax report in the previous fiscal year and their age.
  • Even if students or researchers did not earn an income in the previous year, they must submit a tax report (特別区民税・都民税申告書) by March 15 or an earlier date if March 15 falls on the weekend, every year to ensure their premiums do not increase. In the case students or researchers do not submit a tax report their insurance premiums may increase.
• NHI allows users to pay their insurance premiums and medical costs one of two ways:
  1. Make payments at select convenience stores and banks.
  2. Have the payments directly withdrawn from their personal bank accounts.
• NHI users will receive an NHI card, which they will need to present when they receive medical service in Japan
• Mid to long term residents in Japan who are full time staff at Juntendo University will have their National Health Insurance premiums directly withdrawn from their salary.
• Mid to long term foreign residents must pay all their insurance premiums and notify the Municipal Office they will be withdrawing from the National Health Insurance before leaving Japan.

Registration Procedures

1. Fill in the National Health Insurance application at the Municipal Office.
2. Present the following items to the Municipal Office’s National Health Insurance department:
   • Passport
   • Residence Card
   • National Health Insurance application
   • Optional: document to help explain what you want to do in Japanese
3. Receive the National Health Insurance card.
4. Later, check your mail. You will receive insurance premiums. You can pay the premiums at a convenience store.

Withdrawal Procedures 

1. Notify the Municipal Office you have completed the Notification of Place of Residence procedures and will be leaving Japan. 
2. Present the following items to the Municipal Office’s National Health Insurance department: 
   • Passport
   • Residence Card
   • National Health Insurance application
   • Optional: document to help explain what you want to do in Japanese
3. Pay any outstanding insurance premiums or collect any excess premiums paid.  
4. Return the National Health Insurance Card or mail the card back to the Municipal Office before leaving Japan. Follow the Municipal Office instructions in regard to returning the National Health Insurance Card.