It is the text from here.
Update：September 12, 2008
National pension system, health insurance, and elderly care
National pension system
The national pension system has been set up to provide security for elderly people, handicapped people, and families who have lost wage-earners by means of financial support from the society at large. All Japan residents between the ages of 20 and 59 are required to contribute to the national pension system. Foreign nationals who reside in Japan should also be members of the national pension system.
■Payment method
<Company employees>
Persons who work for companies and who sign up for the Koseinenkin (welfare annuity) System are automatically considered members of the national pension system. Premiums are withdrawn automatically from the worker’s salary. Workers do not need to make the payments themselves.
<Self-employed workers, students, and others>
These people sign up for the national pension system at the Health Care Section. They pay premiums by means of automatic transfer of financial organizations.
National health insurance
National health insurance helps pay for medical costs incurred in the event of sickness or injury. All residents of Japan pay into the system. The amount an individual pays depends on his or her income. People who do not sign up for health insurance at their workplaces and live in Japan for more than one year are required to contribute to the national health insurance system.
■Signing up
Foreign nationals sign up for national health insurance at the Healthcare Section with their foreign resident registration certificate and passport.
■Health insurance premiums (fee)
Premiums are based on an individual’s income for the previous year and are paid in installments several times a year.
■Joining and quitting the system
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Joining |
Quitting |
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・When a person moves into Nagakute Town. ・When a person quits a company health insurance plan ・Newborn babies should be signed up for the system. |
・When a person moves out of Nagakute Town. ・When a person signs up for a company health insurance ・When a person dies |
Other benefits
・At the time of birth----When a person with health insurance gives birth, she receives 350,000 yen as a one-time child birth allowance. Application can be made when she has the birth registered. The payment amount is 350,000 yen. However, if the mother receives allowance from other health insurance, the allowance is not paid by national health insurance. Also, there is a “payment entrust system,” by which the expense of birth is paid to medical facilities under the national health insurance scheme with the upper limit of 350,000 yen.
・When a person dies---When a person who joins the national health insurance dies, “Funeral expense is paid to the person who performed the funeral service. Application can be made when you hand in the report of death. The payment amount is 60,000 yen.
・When you have a prosthesis made---When you have a prosthesis made under the instruction of a medical facility, in response to application, “Medical treatment expense” is paid later in accordance with the ratio of self burden.
・When you paid expensive medical expense at hospitals or other medical facilities---When the sum of medical expense burdened by a person in one month exceeds the upper limit, in response to the application the extra sum surpassing the limit will be paid back at a later date as “expensive medical expense.”
Elderly care
The elderly care system was launched in April 2000 to support elderly people in Japan through contributions from the society at large. Resources for the elderly care system are public funds and contributions collected from all residents of Japan who are 40 years of age or older. Premium amounts depend on income and place of residence. Check at your local government office. In order to receive assistance through the elderly care system, individuals must apply at the Welfare Section in the town office.
