Do I have to join the National health system in Japan?
Q. Do I have to join the National health system in Japan?
A. No. The Kokumin Hoken system is not compulsory, although many people will tell you it is. You can ‘opt out’ by going to your local ward office or town hall and signing a form to that effect. It may require quite a bit of explanation but you can ‘opt out’ if that is what you want to do. Caution, you may have to pay a back fee for the time you have already been in Japan and were, probably without you knowing, automatically enrolled in the system. After ‘opting out’ you are solely responsible for paying for all and any medical expenses in Japan. Even a simple visit to the dentist can be very expensive. So think carefully.
Getting medical treatment (including dental) in Japan is made much simpler by being a member of the Kokumin Hoken system and the charges are not so high so for most non-Japanese keeping up their membership even if they have private insurance is a good decision. One extra benefit, the Kokumin Hoken membership card is considered a very acceptable means of identification if you don’t have a Japanese driving license and you don’t feel comfortable producing your alien registration card.
Read all about the Kokumin Hoken and all other taxes paid in Japan here.
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