Change to health insurance eligibility information

Promptly notify the Health Insurance Society of any changes in your health insurance eligibility information.

Reference link

• Procedures

Obsolete insurance certificate

The obsolete insurance certificate that the Health Insurance Society used to issue will be issued to those who have become members on or before December 1, 2024, and will not be newly issued or re-issued on and after December 2, 2024. However, as a transitional measure, you can use your obsolete insurance certificate for one year thereafter (until December 1, 2025).

Myna (My Number) health insurance card

If you wish to use your My Number Card as your health insurance certificate, you need to register it by linking it to your health insurance. Please see the following links for detailed guidance on how to complete the registration.

Reference link

• How to register your My Number Card as your health insurance certificate (MHLW website)

Reference link

• Using your My Number Card as your health insurance certificate

Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate

The Health Insurance Society will issue a Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate to members who do not have a My Number Health Insurance Card (if the following conditions are met). You can receive medical services covered by health insurance by presenting your Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate at a medical institution or a healthcare provider.

<Conditions for Issuance>

• You have lost your My Number Card.
• Your My Number Card is in the process of being renewed.
• The electronic certificate on your My Number Card has expired.
• You have a My Number Card but have not registered it for use as a health insurance certificate.
• You have not obtained a My Number Card.
• You have returned your My Number Card.
• You require support from a third party (e.g., a caregiver) when receiving medical services using the My Number Health Insurance Card.

Sample Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate (Postcard Size)

The timing of issuance may vary depending on when you became a member of the Health Insurance Society. The following process will apply so long as the transitional period for the obsolete health insurance card is in effect (until December 1, 2025).

<Members who joined by December 1, 2024>
The Health Insurance Society will not issue a Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate to members who hold an obsolete insurance card that can be used, until December 1, 2025.
However, the Health Insurance Society will issue a Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate only to members whose obsolete health insurance card is damaged or lost and who do not hold a My Number Health Insurance Card.

<Members who joined on or after December 2, 2024>
The Health Insurance Society will issue a Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate to members who do not hold a My Number Health Insurance Card.
To initiate the issuance procedures, you are required to submit an application through your employer upon your enrollment in the Health Insurance Society.

To submit an application for the issuance of a Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate, please click the following link:

Reference link

• To have a Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate issued or reissued

Notice of Health Insurance Eligibility Information (KOSMO Web)

The Health Insurance Society provides a “Notice of health insurance eligibility information” (PDF version) on its portal site (KOSMO Web) so that members can access and review their health insurance eligibility information. The “notice of health insurance eligibility information” includes details such as your name, health insurance number, and qualification date.
You can also access your health insurance eligibility information on Mynaportal, a government-provided service.

• How to browse the “notice of health insurance eligibility information” (on KOSMO Web)　

  KOSMO Web (system for browsing medical expenses and other information, and for electronic application) is available here:

  • *You can use the service on your smartphone, personal PC or tablet.
  • *You can also access KOSMO Web from the top page of the Health Insurance Society’s website.
  
  • - Please see the following manual for instructions on how to browse information:

    Manual: How to browse the “notice of health insurance eligibility information”

    • “The “notice of health insurance eligibility information” will be issued in PDF format (A4 size). Please print it out as needed.
    • *After logging in to KOSMO Web (outsourced operator: Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd.), this browsing system will redirect you to MY HEALTH WEB (outsourced operator: Houken Corporation).
  • - You will be required to sign up for this system (KOSMO Web) when using it for the first time.
    If you have not yet signed up, please create your ID and password by following the manual below. If you have lost the “Invitation for our web service” (postcard or notice letter) sent by the Health Insurance Society and do not have the temporary ID or password required for signing up, please contact the Health Insurance Society by email.

    Manual: Initial registration (upon receiving the “Invitation for our web service” postcard)

• Points to note regarding the “Notice of health insurance eligibility information”
  • It takes about one week from the submission of the health insurance eligibility and application-related forms to the Health Insurance Society until the “notice of health insurance eligibility information” is issued (made available for browsing).
  • You cannot receive health insurance treatment with your “notification of eligibility information” only. However, in cases where your My Number Health Insurance Card cannot be used―for example, when visiting medical institutions that are exempt from the obligation of online eligibility verification―, you can receive insured medical services by presenting the “notice of health insurance eligibility information” together with your My Number Health Insurance Card.
  • The Health Insurance Society cannot issue the “notice of health insurance eligibility information” to members (insured persons and their dependents) whose My Number (Individual Number) has not been reported to the Health Insurance Society through their employer. Therefore, when completing your health insurance enrollment procedures, please promptly report your My Number (Individual Number).

When members with an overseas assignment use their Myna Health Insurance Card

Starting May 27, 2024, Japanese nationals can continue using their My Number Cards even after relocating abroad. In addition, Japanese nationals residing abroad who do not currently hold a My Number Card (limited to those who moved abroad on or after October 5, 2015) can also apply for a My Number Card.
A member who is assigned an overseas assignment should complete the necessary procedures before leaving Japan to ensure they can use their My Number Health Insurance Card during temporarily returns home. Please see the following reference link to learn the steps to be followed:

Reference link

• Individual Number Card (My Number Card) web portal - How to use your My Number Card abroad

If your Individual Number Card is lost or stolen

If your Individual Number Card is lost or stolen, call the Individual Number comprehensive toll-free number to take the procedures to terminate the functionality of your Individual Number Card.
Also file a lost/stolen property report with the police and note down the reception number. Then, complete the procedures at the municipal office of your area to have your Individual Number Card reissued.

Reference link

• Individual Number Card general information site: Lost and found (Click on "If you lose your card" on the English page.)

Changing your individual number

Individual Numbers cannot be changed freely. However, they may be changed if requested by the person in question or under the authority of the head of the municipal government when it is recognized that there is a risk of the Individual Number being leaked and improperly used following the theft, etc. of the Individual Number Card.
Consult with your municipal government.
If your Individual Number has changed, promptly notify the Health Insurance Society of your new Individual Number.

Individual Number Card expiration dates

Note the expiration date of your Individual Number Card and that of the electronic certificate uploaded on the Individual Number Card (used when using your Individual Number Card as a health insurance card).
Your Individual Number Card will expire on the tenth birthday after the date the card was issued. The electronic certificate will expire on the fifth birthday after the date of issue.

• * An expiration notice will be sent to the person in question two or three months before the expiration date. Renewal is free of charge.

Reference link

• Note the expiration dates of your Individual Number Card and electronic certificate. Renew promptly if you receive an expiration notice. (Public Relations Office, Government of Japan)

To enable smooth verification of eligibility using a Myna health insurance card to get medical care

To avoid cases of visiting a medical care institution or other facility and presenting a Myna health insurance card before data has been registered by the Health Insurance Society, please note the following points when applying for eligibility as an insured person or dependent.

• You can use your Individual Number Card to get medical care only after the Health Insurance Society receives a notification of eligibility (or, for dependents, a notification of dependents; "Notification of Eligibility, etc." hereinafter) that indicates the correct Individual Number, name, date of birth, gender, and address ("Individual Number, etc." hereinafter) and the Society completes data registration. (You cannot use your Individual Number Card to get medical care until data registration is complete.)
• If the Notification of Eligibility, etc. indicates the correct Individual Number, etc., data registration will typically be completed within five days after the Notification of Eligibility, etc. is submitted to the Health Insurance Society.
• Check the following points in cases in which the correct Individual Number is not shown on a document submitted by the member in relation to certification of eligibility.
  • The Notification of Eligibility, etc. is required by law to indicate the Individual Number and the Individual Number is necessary for data registration.
  • It may take some time for data registration to be completed.
  • You cannot use your Individual Number Card as a Myna health insurance card until data registration is complete.

  Employers are asked to submit Individual Numbers promptly to speed the data registration process. Note the following:

  • The Notification of Eligibility, etc. is required by law to indicate the Individual Number.
  • If the employer fails to promptly submit the Individual Number, the Health Insurance Society will need the number of days specified by the Health Insurance Society to complete the data registration (the standard processing period in cases other than when the Individual Number cannot be obtained from J-LIS).
  • You cannot use your Myna health insurance card until data registration is complete.
• Before using your Individual Number Card to get medical care for the first time after a change in your eligibility status, access Mynaportal and check to confirm that your health insurance card information reflects the change in eligibility.

Reference link

• Mynaportal

Elderly benefits cards

Since the percentage of medical care costs paid by elderly persons aged 70-74 to medical care institutions varies with income, these persons were issued “elderly benefits cards” showing their copayment percentages. However, from December 2, 2024, elderly benefits cards will in principle be issued to those who have an Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate. (Up until December 1, 2025, they can be issued to those who have a valid health insurance card.)

Note that an elderly benefits card is not required when using a Myna health insurance card. Use your Myna health insurance card alone.

Reference link

• If you become sick or are injured

Reference link

• Measures for reducing cost burdens for persons aged 70-74

Online verification of eligibility

Online verification of eligibility has been introduced, making it possible to verify eligibility information online using the Individual Number Card, etc. You can use your Individual Number Card as a health insurance card at medical care institutions and other facilities that have adopted the online eligibility verification system. (Requires advance registration on Mynaportal etc.)
See here for more information.

Reference link

• You can use your Individual Number Card as a health insurance card

If online verification of eligibility fails using the Individual Number Card

If online verification of eligibility fails using the Individual Number Card for any reason (e.g., indication of "Eligibility (invalid)" or "No eligibility information" or defective device), eligibility can be verified by the following methods:

• Presenting your health insurance card(until December 1, 2025)
• Presenting the eligibility information screen of Mynaportal (including downloaded image file) on a smartphone or other device
• Verbal confirmation that there has been no change in the eligibility status from your medical history (if all information that should be shown on the Notification of Eligibility as Insured Person can be checked)
• Submitting a Notification of Eligibility as Insured Person