Medical & Health Care

Japanese medical insurance

Everyone, regardless of nationality, subscribes to public medical insurance in Japan.
The Japanese public medical system involves subscribing to the "National health insurance" in the city or town that one lives in, subscribing to "Health insurance" at work, or the "Medical care system for older senior citizens," etc.

National health insurance

Subscribers to National health insurance

All of the following (1), (2), or (3) up to 74 years old who live in Okinawa City

• (1) Foreigners staying in Japan for three months or more and registered as residents
• (2) Anyone not subscribed to health insurance at work
• (3) Anyone who does not receive welfare benefits

Subscription to & withdrawal from national health insurance

Please go through the procedures at the city hall within 14 days of any of the following (1) ~ (3) events occurring.
Identification (e.g. residence card, special permanent resident certificate) is required for all types of notification.
Please inquire at Kokumin kenko hoken ka (National Health Insurance Administrative Division) for any other requirements.

• (1) When subscribing to national health insurance
  • When staying in Japan for three months or more
  • When moving from other municipality
  • When withdrawing from health insurance at work
  • When no longer a non-working dependent under health insurance
  • When a child is born
  • When no longer receiving pubic assistance
• (2) When withdrawing from national health insurance
  • When moving to other municipality
  • When subscribed to health insurance at work
  • When becoming a non-working dependent under health insurance
  • When starting to receive pubic assistance
  • Upon death
• (3) Others
  • When one's address has changed within Okinawa City
  • When the name or head of household has changed
  • When one's national health insurance card was lost or damaged
  • When another address is used while studying

Insurance premiums

National health insurance premiums are the total for medical care and health care for the elderly aged 75 or over, and care insurance.
Care insurance premiums are paid by those between 40 and 64 years old. From 65 years old, care insurance premiums are paid separately.
In Okinawa City, annual insurance premiums (from April until the following March) are split into eight payments from July to the following February.

*If one's insurance premiums are not paid by the due date, a delinquency charge may be incurred.
*If paying one's insurance premiums becomes difficult due to loss of income, one can apply for a reduction or exemption from insurance premiums. Please inquire at Kokumin kenko hoken ka (National Health Insurance Administrative Division) for details.

Medical expenses

By presenting one's "national health insurance card" at the hospital counter, you will only be billed a portion of the medical care expenses for your diagnosis and treatment.
The proportion of medical expenses to be paid by subscribers to the national health insurance is as follows.
ŸChildren from birth until elementary school age: 20%
*The 20% self-paid burden is also exempted if one applies for medical subsidies for children.
ŸŸŸŸUp to 69 years old: 30%
ŸAges 70 to 74: 20% or 30% depending on one's income

Main benefits

National health insurance subscribers are eligible to receive the following benefits.

Medical expense benefits
If an insurance card is not held at the time of an emergency, once the full medical expenses are paid, a refund can be claimed.

High-cost medical expense benefit
If the fees paid to a hospital, etc. within one month are very high, the portion in excess of the self-pay limit will be refunded.
*If hospitalized or undergoing surgery, payment only up to the self-pay limit can be made by applying for an "Eligibility certificate for applicable limit" in advance, and presenting it to the medical institution's cashier.

Childbirth and childcare lump sum
When giving birth, subscribers to national health insurance are eligible to receive ¥420,000. If your medical institution is not covered under the Japan Obstetrics Compensation System, you will receive ¥404,000. This sum is paid even in the case of stillbirths or miscarriages if the pregnancy lasts 85 days or more.

Lump-sum funeral allowance
When subscribers to national health insurance pass away, the person who held the funeral is eligible to receive ¥50,000.

Benefit of major medical expenses for long-term care recipients
If the total paid for national health insurance and long-term care premiums within a year was excessive, the portion that exceeded the self-pay limit will be refunded.

Inquiries

Kokumin Kenko Hoken ka (National Health Insurance Administrative Division)
TEL: 098-939-1212

Medical care system for older senior citizens

The medical care system for older senior citizens is medical insurance that one subscribes to from 75 years old (or 65 years old for those with certain disabilities).
The insurance certificate for the medical care system for older senior citizens is sent to your home in the month prior to that when you will become 75 years old.
You will automatically be subscribed to the medical care system for older senior citizens on your 75th birthday.
Insurance premiums are deducted from one's pension for those who receive an annual pension of ¥180,000 or more.
People other than those who pay their premiums using a payment slip or via direct debit.
The ratio of medical expenses to be paid by subscribers of the medical care system for older senior citizens at the hospital is 10% or 30% depending on one's income.

Main benefits

If one's hospital bills, etc. within a month are excessive, that portion that exceeds the self-pay limit will be refunded as high-cost medical expense benefit.
You can get a reduction on your meals while you are hospitalized and discount coupons for massages, including acupuncture and moxibustion, and funeral allowances can also be received.

Inquiries

Kokumin Kenko Hoken ka (National Health Insurance Division) - Medical care for older senior citizens section
TEL: 098-939-1212

Long-term care insurance

The long-term care insurance system has been created to support the burden of nursing care across society as a whole.
Everyone who lives in Japan subscribes to long-term care insurance and pays the premiums regardless of nationality once they become 40 years old.
When they require nursing care, they can use the care service at a fraction of the actual expense.

Payment of insurance premiums

• People aged 40 to 64 (Category II insured persons)
  Insurance premiums are paid with premiums for medical insurance subscribed to by the person.
• People aged 65 or older (Category I insured persons)
  Insurance premiums are deducted from one's pension if you receive an annual pension of ¥180,000 or more.
  People other than those who pay their premiums using a payment slip or via direct debit.

Using care services

One needs to be certified as "Requiring care (Level 1 to 5)" or "Requiring support (Level 1 or 2)" before one can start using care services. Please contact Kaigo Hoken ka (Long-term Care Insurance Division) to apply for certification procedures.

Expensive care services, and expensive medical costs for long-term care recipients

If the amount of care service usage, or total amount of medical insurance and care services paid within a year was high, any portion that exceeded the self-pay limit will be refunded.

Inquiries

Kaigo Hoken ka (Long-term Care Insurance Division)
TEL: 098-939-1212

Medical subsidies

Medical subsidies for children

Medical care for children living in Okinawa City is free from birth until they graduate from junior high school. (Procedures must be followed.)
Their health insurance card and "beneficiary certificate" must be presented at the hospital.
*Only applies where health insurance can be used.
Contact for inquiries: Kodomo Katei ka (Children's Welfare Division) - Personnel handling medical subsidies for children
TEL: 098-939-1212 (Extension No. 2124, 2125, 3189)

Medical subsidies for single-parent families, etc.

This system provides support for part of the payment when members of a single-parent family go to a hospital.
Children without parents, and children with disabled parents are also eligible.
*Only applies where health insurance can be used.
Contact for inquiries: Kodomo Katei ka (Children's Welfare Division)
TEL: 098-939-1212

Health checks & vaccinations

Health checks for citizens

Okinawa City conducts health checks for citizens aged 18 or older at community halls and hospitals, etc.
Eligible individuals will receive a postcard notification.
Contact for inquiries: Shimin Kenko ka (Citizens' Healthcare Division) - Health check section
TEL: 098-939-1212 (Extension: 2245, 2246)

Flu vaccinations for the elderly

Residents of Okinawa City aged 65 or older are eligible to receive free flu vaccinations to prevent  severe cases of influenza.
Contact for inquiries: Kodomo Sodan-Kenko ka (Child Consultation & Health Division)
TEL: 098-939-1212

Pubic assistance

The pubic assistance system provides support to people who cannot work for some reason and those with extremely low incomes to enable them to afford the minimum necessities.
Foreigners with valid visas are also protected in the same manner as Japanese citizens.
When living is impossible because one's income is too small, despite using one's savings, assets, and ability to work, etc., some portion of the shortfall will be paid by comparing the bare minimum amount of money required to live as predetermined by the national government with one's household income.
*Please consult whether you can receive support from your parents, children, or siblings, etc. before applying.
*If you are eligible to receive any pensions or allowances, you must use those.

Contact for inquiries: Welfare Office - Hogo ka (Public Assistance Division)
TEL: 098-939-1212

Welfare for the disabled

Certificates for the disabled

People with disabilities can apply for a certificate of disability.
Once you have a disability certificate, you become eligible for certain services, such as reduced medical expenses, exemption from taxes, and receiving welfare allowances.

• Physical disability certificate
  This certifies that one has a physical disability.  It is categorized from Level 1 to 6 based on the severity of the disability.
• Intelectual disability certificate
  This certifies that one has an intellectual disability.  It is categorized to A1, A2, B1, or B2 based on the severity of the disability.
• Certification of psychiatric disorder
  This is issued to those whose lives are restricted due to a psychiatric disorder. It is categorized from Level 1 to 3.

Contact for inquiries: Shogai Fukushi ka (Welfare Division for Persons with Disabilities)
TEL: 098-939-1212

Allowances for the disabled

Welfare allowance for disabled children

Children aged up to 19 with severe disabilities who need constant care in their daily life are eligible to receive this allowance.
Contact for inquiries: Shogai Fukushi ka (Welfare Division for Persons with Disabilities) - Welfare Section for Persons with Disabilities
TEL: 098-939-1212 (Extension No. 3155)

Special disability allowance

Individuals aged 20 or older with severe disabilities who remain at home and need constant care in their daily life are eligible to receive this allowance.
Contact for inquiries: Shogai Fukushi ka (Welfare Division for Persons with Disabilities) - Welfare Section for Persons with Disabilities
TEL: 098-939-1212 (Extension No. 3155)

Subsidized medical expenses for persons (children) with severe physical or mental disabilities

Support for some of the medical expenses when people with severe disabilities receive medical care in a hospital, etc.
Contact for inquiries: Shogai Fukushi ka (Welfare Division for Persons with Disabilities)
TEL: 098-939-1212

*All allowances are subject to income restrictions.
*Only available in Japanese