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What is the National Health Insurance Plan (Kokumin Kenko Hoken)?

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update: Nov 25,2009
People who live in Japan are required to join either the Employees'Health Insurance Plan (Hiyosha Hoken) at their place of employment or the National Health Insurance Plan (Kokumin Kenko Hoken). Under the National Health Insurance Plan, medical expenses are taken care of through insurance premium paid by the individual, and supplemented by expenses supported by the national and prefectural governments. Joining the National Health Insurance Plan: Registered foreigners who have been qualified to reside for more than a year and who do not belong to any other health insurance plan are required to join the National Health Insurance Plan at the time of retirement or transfer of residence. An insurance certificate will be issued to you. Insurance Premium: Upon joining the National Health Insurance Plan, each household (or family) is issued a health insurance certificate that provides proof of membership in the insurance plan. Payment of insurance premium is the responsibility of the head of the household.

System of Payment

  1. Illness or Injuries: Always take along your health insurance certificateto the hospital or clinic. The plan covers 70 percent of the cost of medical treatment (you will be required to pay the remaining 30 percent).
  2. The plan also covers expenses in case of childbirth, death etc.
  3. When an individual's medical expenses at the same medical facility in a month are more than a specified amount, the amount exceeded will be reimbursed.

Please notify in the following cases

  • You can apply to receive treatment covered by the National Health Insurance Plan in case of a traffic accident or injury due to a third party.
  • A new health insurance certificate is reissued in case of loss or being damaged in some way.
  • Please inform the City Office in case of transfer of residence, embarkation from Japan, joining other insurance plans.

* There are certain treatments that are not covered by the National Health Insurance Plan. Please consult the National Health Insurance Section (Kokumin Kenko Hoken-ka) for details.

Information published on this website by:
●Information on this page is published by:
Publicity Affairs Section, Planning Department
Ichikawa City Hall
Yawata 1-1-1, Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture
電話：047-334-1106　FAX：047-336-2300
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