13. Social Insurance
About Social Insurance
Social insurance is central to the social security system of Japan. All subscribers contribute to funds which ultimately are used as a pool to be drawn on should a subscriber or a member of their family suffer from sickness, injury, disability, death, old age, or unemployment. The types of social insurance available are Medical Insurance, Pension, Nursing Care Insurance, Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance, and Employment insurance.
National Health Insurance
All citizens are supposed to subscribe to Medical Insurance Plan in Japan so that they can go to the hospital if they are sick or injured without the worry of an expensive financial burden. Foreigners who applied for alien registration and intend to stay in Japan for more than one year must subscribe to National Health Insurance Plan. You need to apply for National Health Insurance Plan in the same municipal office where you applied for alien registration within 14 days of settling your housing arrangements. You need to submit your Certificate of Alien Registration or an Exchange Certificate of Certificate of Alien Registration. You will receive your National Health Insurance Card once it is processed. When you receive a medical examination at the hospital, you should present this card. If you show it, you will be charged only 30% of the examination fee. If you do not show it, you will have to pay in full. (Only one National Health Insurance Card is issued per household.)
Payment of National Health Insurance Premium
You must bear the full premium of the National Health Insurance (unlike Health Insurance Plan which you join through your company). The payment method of the premium is either by funds transfer at a bank or post office, or by direct debit from your bank or postal account. If you wish to use direct debit, you should open the bank or postal account in advance. When making payment, take your bank/postal book and personal seal with you.
◆Membership Procedure◆
| Hamada City Office / Welfare General Affairs Division / Insurance Section Tel (0855)22-2612 Ext.156 / 158 Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 8:30-17:15 (Except holidays, year-end and new-year) |
Medical Assistance for International Students
If you are an international student, you should apply for the medical assistance for international students through the Association of International Education, Japan. When you go to the hospital because of sickness or injury, they reimburse 80% of the medical expenses paid in cash if you have applied for assistance. If you want to receive this assistance, you need to apply to the Association of International Education, Japan through the international student office in your university. In addition, you must enter the National Health Insurance Plan. There are also other conditions that must be met. Ask at the international student office of your university for further information.
Health Insurance and Payment of Premiums
A person who is working for a Japanese company, regardless of nationality, must enter their Employee Health Insurance Plan. The premium of the Health Insurance is calculated based on your salary and bonus, and halved between your employer and you. Usually, the premium is deducted from your monthly salary and bonus and paid on your behalf by the employer. After you join the Employee Health Insurance Plan, you will also receive your Health Insurance Card. When you receive a medical examination at the hospital, you should present this card. If you show it, you will be charged only 20% of the examination fee. If you do not show it, you will have to pay in full. (Your dependents will be charged 30 %.) However, the rate is likely to change in the future.
National Pension Plan
In Japan, all citizens have to apply for the Pension Plan as well as the Medical Insurance System. The purpose of the Pension Plan is to provide stability in you and your family's lives by supplying a pension or a lump sum payment when one suffers from old age, disability, and death. In Japan, all residents between 20 and 60 years old (including students) must join the National Pension Plan. You can apply for it at the same municipal office where you applied for alien registration. You need to present your Certificate of Alien Registration or Exchange Certificate of Certificate of Alien Registration. Since students over 20 years have difficulty paying the National Pension premium because they do not have income, they can use a system called "Student Payment Exception System". This means they can pay the premium when they start receiving income. For further information, ask the municipal office where you applied for alien registration or the Social Insurance Office in your area.
Payment of National Pension Premium
The payment method of the premium is a direct payment at the Social Insurance Office, funds transfer at a financial institution, or direct debit from your account. If you wish to pay by direct debit, you should open a bank or postal account in advance. You should take your bank/postal book and personal seal with you when making payment.
◆Inquiries◆
| Hamada City Office / Welfare General Affairs Division / Insurance Section Tel (0855)22-2612 Ext.156 / 158 Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 8:30-17:15 (Except holidays, year-end and new-year) |
| Matsue Social Insurance Office・・・Tel (0852)23-9542/9543 Shimane Social Insurance Bureau Izumo Office・・・Tel (0853)24-0042/0043 Hamada Social Insurance Office・・・Tel (0855)22-0673/4050 ※Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 9:00-16:30 |
Welfare Pension Insurance and Payment of Premiums
A person working in a Japanese company will be subscribed to the Welfare Pension Insurance automatically. Your employer applies for the Welfare Pension Insurance on your behalf. The premium of the Welfare Pension Insurance is calculated based on your salary and bonus, and halved between your employer and you. Usually, the premium is deducted from your monthly salary and bonus and paid on your behalf by the employer.
Lump Sum Withdrawals
Foreigners who have paid the premiums for either the National Pension Plan or the Welfare Pension Insurance for more than six moths, but leave Japan before they become eligible to receive the pension, are able to receive a Lump Sum Withdrawal Payment depending on the time spent paying the premiums. This Lump Sum Withdrawal must be applied for within two years of leaving Japan. It is advisable to attain the necessary documents required for the application before leaving. Ask at any of the following offices for an explanation of this procedure.
◆Inquiries◆
| ・ Matsue Social Insurance Office / Pension Consultation Section・・・Tel (0852)26-2800 ・ Shimane Social Insurance Bureau Izumo Office・・・Tel (0853)24-0042/0043 ・ Hamada Social Insurance Office・・・Tel (0855)22-0673/4050 ※Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 9:00-16:00 (Except holidays, year-end and new-year) |
Nursing Care Insurance System
The Nursing Care Insurance System is a system in which society as a whole supports nursing care for senior citizens. Those over 40 years of age who applied for alien registration and have the resident status for one year or more must join the Nursing Care Insurance Scheme. The Nursing Care Insurance premium can be paid by the following methods:
【Payment of Nursing Care Insurance Premium】
| Age | Insurant Type | Payment Method |
|---|---|---|
| 65 years or over | Type 1 Insured | ・ If you receive the old-age pension more than 15,000 yen monthly, in principle, the premium is deducted from the pension automatically. If your monthly old-age pension amount is less than 15,000 yen, pay the premium to the municipality at the nearest financial institution. |
| Between 40 and 64 years old | Type 2 Insured | ・ If you join the Employee Health Insurance, the premium is deducted from your monthly salary as well as the Medical Insurance premium and paid by the employer on your behalf. ・ If you join the National Health Insurance Scheme, the premium can be paid as part of the National Health Insurance premium at any financial institutions. |
【Receiving Nursing Care Services】
In order to receive nursing care service, it is necessary to be diagnosed as being in need of nursing care by a committee in the municipality where you applied for alien registration. The following procedure must be undertaken.
- It is necessary to submit an application to the municipal office where you applied for alien registration to receive recognition of your need for care (need for assistance).
- An investigator commissioned from the municipality will visit you to investigate your mental and physical condition and daily life.
- The municipality requests your doctor to write a "Physician's Report". The "Physician's Report" is necessary for you to receive recognition of your need for care. It provides a medical opinion about your mental and physical condition and your suitability for nursing care.
- The information contained in the Physician's Report and the report from visiting investigator is processed electronically and by the committee, to determine if you are in need of care.
- The mayor's office will notify you of the results and decide the services required. If nursing care service is not required, this is classified as "self-supporting". (You cannot receive the service.) If nursing care service is required, this is classified as "In need of support" or "In need of care" which has five levels of nursing care, each increasing in dependency.
- If you receive notification that nursing care is required, a specialist of nursing care support will develop a suitable care plan (a "nursing care plan") aimed towards self-support, dependant on the conditions of the care required. The nursing care services available are based on this care plan.
【Charge of Nursing Care Services】
Usually, you are charged 10% of the expense spent on the nursing care services. If you enter a nursing care institution, food expenses must be paid for separately.
◆Inquiries◆
| Hamada City Office / Health and Longevity Division / Elderly Welfare Section Tel (0855)22-2612 Ext.152 Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 8:30-17:15 (Except holidays, year-end and new-year) |
Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance
The Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance aims to protect workers and family members by compensating benefits the workers in case of job-related injury, illness, death, or an accident on the way to or from work. The workers' employer is obligated to subscribe to the Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance Scheme. All workers, regardless of their employment status, are automatically subscribed to the scheme by the fact that their company has joined the scheme. In the case of Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance, employers are required to pay all insurance premiums for their employees.
◆Inquiries◆
| Hamada Labor Standards Supervision Office Tel (0855)22-1840 Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 8:30-17:00 (Except holidays, year-end and new-year) |
Employment Insurance
Employment Insurance System is designed to stabilize the life-style and encourage people's efforts to find employment after losing their jobs. The government provides unemployment benefits (money) while seeking new jobs. The unemployment benefits are funded by the insurance premiums paid by workers and employers.
◆Inquiries◆
| Hamada Public Employment Security Office (Hello Work in Hamada) Tel (0855)22-8609 Dates & Hours : Mon.-Fri. 8:30-17:00 (Except holidays, year-end and new-year) |
