Bits of Japanese Knowledge

National Health Insurance is mandatory

National Health Insurance (Kokuho) is a health insurance policy that forms the core of the universal health insurance system in Japan, in which all people are obliged to take out some form of medical insurance. Foreign nationals staying for more than three months will also be eligible like Japanese.The local government office where you live will handle the procedure.

If you enroll in Kokuho, you can receive medical treatment for sickness, injuries, painful teeth, or teeth cleaning etc., by presenting Kokuho card at the reception counter in the hospitals or dental physician. As for the payment, you need to incur only a part of the in-policy medical cost (from elementary students to 69 years old, self-pay ratio is 30%).

Insurance premiums paid by Japanese nationals are calculated based on their income in the previous fiscal year. For foreigners, however, who have stayed in Japan for the first time for more than 90 days, or for foreigners visiting Japan for "Cultural Activities" as their Status of Residence, insurance premiums are calculated at the contact point of the local government because they do not have their previous fiscal year income in Japan. The amount varies by cities or towns, but in case of Tsukuba City, the amount paid by the person with no income in the previous fiscal year is around ¥20,000 per year (as of June 2019).

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For foreign nationals with Status of Residence as "Researcher" and staying in Japan in the following fiscal year and beyond, insurance premiums in the first fiscal year are determined in accordance with their income, similar to Japanese nationals.

Kokuho card should be returned at the local government's liaison office when returning back to their home country, the balance amount of insurance premium is calculated, and withdrawal procedures are carried out.

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