1-1. Worker's Health Insurance Plan (Shakai Hoken)
This insurance plan is for employees at companies or organizations. The premium will be deducted from your monthly salary and your employer will add the same amount to your premium. Whenever you get medical treatment at a health insurance hospital, you have to show your Health Insurance Certificate (Kenko-hoken Sho). 70% of the total treatment fees are covered for the insured. Families of the insured are also covered by the plan at a rate of 70% of the fees for outpatient treatment and 70% of hospitalization fees. For more information about the Worker's Health Insurance Plan, contact your employer or Telephone Advisory Service for Foreign Residents
Phone: 043-222-6652

1-2. National Health Insurance Plan (Kokumin Kenko Hoken)
If you will be living in Japan for more than one year (visa and period of stay), and you are not enrolled in the Worker's Health Insurance Plan through work, you are required to join the National Health Insurance Plan. You must apply at your ward or municipal office by showing your alien registration card. Under this plan, premiums are decided according to your income and number of dependents. You can pay your premiums directly at your ward or municipal office or through money transfers at banks or post offices. You can also have the amount automatically transferred from your bank account. When you move, you must report the change of address both to your present municipality and the one at your new place of residence within 14 days. (Not only foreign residents but Japanese citizens are also obligated to do this.) If you present your Health Insurance Certificate at a medical institution, you will have to bear only 30% of the cost of treatment. Routine check-ups, immunizations, cosmetic surgery, normal childbirth, orthodontic work, and abortion are not covered under this insurance plan, although there is a one-time delivery and childcare allowance. Other treatments not covered are illness and injuries due to criminal acts or those brought about intentionally.

2-1 Going to a hospital or a clinic for the first time
The first time you visit a hospital you must check in at the reception desk and fill out an application. Usually there are two types of forms, one for first-timers and one for registered patients. You will be issued a card on your first visit, which you should bring with you every time you visit a hospital. You will also have to show your Health Insurance Certificate (Kenko-hoken Sho) at the first visit. Once you have checked in, you will be referred to the appropriate department or doctor. You need to wait to be seen, which can be up to 2-3 hours at large hospitals. The wait is usually shorter at local clinics. If you are having trouble finding a doctor in your area who can speak a foreign language, call the Telephone Advisory for Foreign Residents. They will try to help you find a hospital or clinic in your area.
Phone: 043-222-6652

2-2 In Case of Emergency (Kyukyu)
For emergencies such as severe illnesses or serious injuries, call an ambulance ( Dial 119 ). If you can take the patient with less serious injuries or illnesses to a hospital by car or taxi, do not use an ambulance. Don't forget to take your Health Insurance Certificate with you.

2-3 During Holidays and at Night
Most municipalities have their own holiday and night service systems. Therefore, please contact your municipal office during their office hours in advance. Be sure to take your Health Insurance Certificate (Kenko-hoken Sho) with you.

3-1 Medicine from Hospitals and Clinics
In many hospitals and clinics in Japan, doctors who give you treatment will also give you medicine from their pharmacist's office. Be sure to inform your doctor if you are taking any medication for chronic diseases. Payment for the cost of medicine should be done at the payment desk of the hospital or clinic when you pay for medical treatments. You should keep the receipts (Ryoshusho) for tax deduction.

3-2 Prescription Medicine
A prescription (Shohosen) from your doctor is usually given to you with the receipt for your payment at the payment desk of the hospital or clinic you visit. In this case you will need to go to a pharmacy to buy the prescribed medicine. Sometimes pharmacies are designated by hospitals. Prescription medicine is also tax deductible, so you should keep the receipt from the pharmacy. The cost of medicine you choose yourself at pharmacies is not tax deductible

3-3 Over-the-counter Medicine
When your symptoms are not serious, you can buy medicine at pharmacies in your neighborhood without prescriptions. You can consult with pharmacists there to find the appropriate kind of medicine for your problem. Be sure to inform them if you have any allergies or chronic diseases.

Company Health Insurance (Shakai-hoken/kenko-hoken)
If employed by a company, as a full time worker or working more than 75% of a full time workers' schedule, you and your family can enroll in the Shakai-hoken scheme. Application and payment can be done at your place of employment. The premium is based on your average monthly earnings and deducted directly from your salary. Under this scheme you and your family are required to pay 30% (percent) of the total medical expenses. However, there is a ceiling on how much you are expected to pay. Once medical expenses reach a certain limit, participants are entitled to a refund of additional costs.

National Health Insurance〔IRYO HOKEN〕

　The National Health Insurance System aims to provide aid to help sick or injured people pay their medical expenses. Every resident of Japan (regardless of nationality) must enroll in a public medical plan so that he or she is covered by public medical insurance at all times. There are two types of medical insurance: Employees' Health Insurance (Kenko Hoken) which is mainly for office workers and National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) for independent enterprises, farm workers and those who do not qualify for “Employees' Health Insurance” (Kenko Hoken).

Employees' Health Insurance〔KENKO HOKEN〕

Who Must Enroll?	A company employee. ※If your company does not offer the Employees' Health Insurance plan, please apply for National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken).
Insurance premium	The insurance premium is calculated based upon the worker’s monthly income and standard bonus. The premium is paid with the policy holder and employer each paying their portion. Normally, the premium is deducted from the employee’s salary and bonus.
Coverage	The insurance covers 70% of all medical expenses (you pay 30% of expenses)
Not covered	Medical checkups, vaccinations, childbirth, plastic surgery (including dental beautification),etc ※Warning: Employees' Health Insurance does not cover medical treatment for illness or injury suffered at work or on the way to work.

For further information, please consult your employer.

Links:
Social Insurance Agency Homepage – Re. Applying for Health Insurance and Welfare Pension Insurance

   Japanese & English (pdf file, 736 Kb) http://www.sia.go.jp/infom/pamph/dl/pamph01_01.pdf
   Chinese (Mandarin) & Spanish (pdf file, 856 Kb) http://www.sia.go.jp/infom/pamph/dl/pamph01_02.pdf
   Korean & Portuguese (pdf file, 930 Kb) http://www.sia.go.jp/infom/pamph/dl/pamph01_03.pdf

National Health Insurance 〔KOKUMIN KENKO HOKEN〕

Who Must Enroll?	All those who do not qualify for Employees' Health Insurance
Eligibility requirements for foreigners	・Documentation certifying that you will reside in Japan for one year or longer ・Completion of Foreign Resident Registration
Enrollment Procedures	All the application materials should be submitted to your local government. Required Items     ・Foreign Resident Registration Card     ・Passport     ・etc. ※If you are working for a company that does not offer Employees' Health Insurance (Kenko Hoken), you might need proof of your ineligibility from your company. For further information, please contact your local government.
One insurance card will be issued for each household. Be sure to show it whenever you receive medical treatment. Be sure to notify your local government in the following cases:   ・If you leave Japan   ・If you move out of (or into) your municipality   ・If a child is born   ・If a member of your household dies   ・If a change occurs in your address, head of household or name   ・If you lose the insurance card   ・If you reach 75 years of age
Insurance premium　　(tax)	The insurance premium (tax) is calculated based upon your last year’s income and the number of members in your family.　 Normally, the insurance premium is paid on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Coverage and benefits	Children under 3 years old pay 20% of all medical expenses. Persons between 3 and 69 years old pay 30% of all medical expenses. Persons over 70 years of age pay 10% of all medical expenses. Income Earners above 70 years old pay 20% of all medical expenses. In the following cases you will recieve limited financial aid:   ・If a child is born   ・If a family member dies   ・If your medical expenses in a given month exceed a designated amount
Not covered	Medical checkups, vaccinations, childbirth, plastic surgery (including dental beautification) ※Warning: National Health Insurance does not cover medical treatment for illness or injury suffered at work or on the way to work.

For further information, please contact your local government.

Links:
Social Insurance Agency Homepage – Re. Applying for Health Insurance and Welfare Pension Insurance