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Employee's Health Insurance
A foreign researcher who is paid by Kobe University and whose term of employment contract exceeds two months is eligible for this program. The person enrolled in the Social Insurance program must also enroll in the Employees' Pension Plans. The insured and his/her dependant family members can receive medical care at 30% of the total expense. Insurance premiums vary with income.
Social Insurance Agency:
National Health Insurance Program
If the researcher is staying in Japan for one year or more and is not covered by the employee's health insurance program, he/she must join the National Health Insurance program managed by the local municipality. The National Health Insurance program is an insurance system designed to reduce individual medical cost, for all nationalities, in the event of illness or injury through a mutual payments and assistance system. It is recommended to enroll in the National Health Insurance program when registering for the Certificate of Alien Registration.
Insurance premiums vary with income and municipalities. For details, inquire at the regional public office.
A person who has joined the National Health Insurance program will be provided with a National Health Insurance card (kenko-hoken-sho). The researcher must show the card at the reception desk of hospitals or clinics at arrival. The cost of most medical services will be at 30% of the total cost under the National Health Insurance system, except for the following:
- (1) Medical services received outside Japan
- (2) Normal conception, birth (however, maternal allowance is provided)
- (3) Medical checkup
- (4) Vaccinations
One of the benefits of the National Medical Insurance is a childbirth allowance (approx. 300,000 yen including stillbirths and miscarriages that occur on or after the 85th day of pregnancy) and contribution for funeral and burial (50,000 - 70,000 yen). The Insurance also provides financial assistance towards health care costs for specified illnesses
Promptly notify the National Health Insurance Section of the local municipal or ward office in any of the following cases:
- When moving out of (or into) a ward or municipality, or leaving (entering) Japan.
- When a member of the household is deceased
- When a child is born
- When there is a change in the researcher's address, the head of the household or the name.
- When the insurance card is lost or stolen
- When joining or withdrawing from another public insurance plan.
Japan federation of National Health Insurance Organizations: http://www.kokuho.or.jp/english/index.htm