Enrollment in National/Social Health Insurance

Japan has a health insurance program to alleviate the personally borne cost of medical expenses.  All non-Japanese living in Japan for three months or longer are required by law to enroll in National Health Insurance scheme.  Enrollment procedures can be completed at the National Health Insurance section of your local municipal office (in the case of Chofu City, the Insurance and Pension Section on the second floor of Chofu City Hall, Tel: 042-481-7052).  Insurance premiums should be paid at a later date.  Since insurance premiums are calculated depending on the income earned in Japan during the previous year, if you file a report stating that you did not have an income during the previous year, your insurance premiums may be reduced. 

Please note that because full-time faculty and staff as well as specially-appointed faculty who work 40 hours or more per week are supposed to enroll in a mutual-aid association. And also, part-timers who work 30 hours or more per week are supposed to enroll in a Social Insurance provided by UEC. Those are not required to enroll in National Health Insurance.

For more information on National Health Insurance, please read “Medical Expenses and National/Social Health Insurance.”

Created: March 30, 2010 / Last modified:June 5, 2014