How to Use Your Health Insurance Card

Learn how to present your insurance card, how the 30 percent payment system works, and what happens if you forget the card.

A Japanese health insurance card is one of the most important cards you will use in daily life. Showing it at a clinic or hospital reduces your payment to 30 percent of the medical cost in most ordinary cases.

Types of insurance cards

Employee health insurance:

Issued through your employer’s health insurance system.

National Health Insurance:

Issued by your city or ward if you are not covered through an employer.

My Number health insurance use:

In some medical institutions, your My Number card can be used instead of a separate insurance card.

How to use it

1. At reception, you will usually be asked whether you have your insurance card.

2. Show the card, or use your My Number card if the clinic supports it.

3. Pay your share of the bill, usually 30 percent.

Example:

If the total bill is ¥5,000, you would usually pay ¥1,500 and insurance would cover the rest.

If you forget your card

You can still receive treatment, but you may have to pay the full amount first. Later, you can bring your insurance card and request reimbursement of the difference.

High-cost medical expense system

If you have surgery or a hospital stay and your monthly medical costs become high, there is a ceiling on what you need to pay yourself. The exact ceiling depends on your income, but for many people it is around ¥80,000 to ¥90,000 per month.

If you apply in advance for a certificate of maximum co-payment, you can reduce the amount you have to pay at the counter. You can apply through your employer’s insurer or your local government office.

If you are a dependent family member

If you are covered as a spouse or dependent, you will still receive insurance coverage and can also normally use it with the same 30 percent co-payment rule.