With the current health insurance card becoming invalid as of December 2, the Japan Health Insurance Association (Association Kenpo) will send “Health Insurance Eligibility Card” to insured workers and their dependent families who cannot use “My Number” card as health insurance certificate.
[1] What is the Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate?
Even if workers do not have a My Number card or have not associated the card with their health insurance data, they can receive health insurance services by showing the Eligibility Certificate at hospitals or other medical facilities.
Workers newly registered in the insurance system on December 2, 2024, or after and other insured individuals unable to use the My Number card as health insurance certificate have already received the Eligibility Certificate. Other insured workers will receive their certificate by December.
[2] Delivery of the Eligibility Certificate
For companies enrolled in the Association Kenpo, the Eligibility Certificate will be sent directly to insured workers from late July. Applicable workers are individuals who have the conventional health insurance card (registered in the insurance system by November 29, 2024) and are unable to use their My Number card as health insurance certificate as of April 30, 2025.
Workers will receive a mail containing certificates of themselves and dependent family members (in multiple envelopes in the case of five or more people.) Undeliverable mails will be redirected to their companies, which will be responsible for handing the certificates to the workers.
The exact timing of the delivery will vary among regions. The Association Kenpo has disclosed the detailed schedule on its website. Please check details and inform employees about the delivery in advance.
[Reference]
The Japan Health Insurance Association, “A Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate Will be Sent to You”
https://www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/event/cat550/shikakusoufu/
*The information is based on laws as of the date of the original article.
