The Japan Health Insurance Association conducts an annual check to confirm dependent family members satisfy the requirements of the health insurance program. This year, the dependent family lists have been sent to companies from early October to the beginning of November. The paper must be submitted by the end of November. This article explains about this check and important points in completing the paper.
1. Purpose of the annual check and the situation of fiscal 2021
Dependent family members can receive insurance benefits to a certain extent without paying premiums. If insured persons do not satisfy the requirements, the association’s spending on medical treatments and elderly care will increase inappropriately and lead to a hike in premiums. Dependent family check is conducted to prevent such problems.
In fiscal 2021, about 73,000 people were excluded from the program (as of March 31, 2022). This reportedly helped reduce the total premium payment by the elderly between the ages of 65 and 74 by roughly 900 million yen. Most of the people were removed from the dependent family members, because “they had failed to submit the necessary document to change the status after becoming employed and enrolled in a health insurance program on their own.”
2. Important points to the annual check
Based on the list from the association, companies have to confirm that insured employees’ dependent families meet the requirements in writing or by oral hearing.
In the case a dependent family member does not live with the insured employee, the company must obtain documents that prove the employee is financially supporting the family member and the amount of money sent to the person (*). Specifically, such employee is required to submit a copy of the bankbook, if the money is transferred, or a copy of registered mail, in the case of cash. The employee may black out irrelevant parts in the copy of the bankbook.
As an exception, salary income paid to medical workers engaged in COVID-19 vaccination may be excluded from the income requirement of the dependent family entitlement check. Companies must check carefully if they have applicable employees.
* The documents can be spared if the dependent family member is a student.
Since some employees might have to prepare documents proving their families fulfil the requirement, companies should start the check as soon as they can.
[Reference]
Japan Health Insurance Association “Dependent family entitlement check for fiscal 2022 for employers and subscribers”
https://www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/event/cat590/info220719/
Japan Health Insurance Association “Thank you for your cooperation for dependent family entitlement check for fiscal 2021”
https://www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/event/cat590/20220530/
*The information is based on laws and regulations as of the date of this article.
