Health insurance documents for residents

Start hereConfirm your enrollment

This page is for people living in Japan who need to check their Japanese public health insurance documents. It does not decide eligibility or confirm that a particular service is covered.

MHLW explains that the relevant insurance scheme depends on factors including employment and age. For workplace insurance, ask your employer which insurer handles your enrollment; for National Health Insurance, contact your municipal office. Confirm your start date and any required procedure with the responsible office. MHLW: public health insurance for foreign residents

If you have just moved or changed jobs, ask what needs updating before your next appointment. MHLW says procedures to join or leave the applicable insurance scheme are still necessary even when the same My Number card is used. MHLW: FAQ, changes of employer or address

At receptionWhich document do you have?

A My Number card registered for health insurance use

This is often called a マイナ保険証 (Myna hokensho). Registration is separate from obtaining the card and can be completed at participating clinic or pharmacy card readers. Check that your coverage details, card and electronic certificate remain current. MHLW: using the card

A 資格確認書 eligibility certificate

This document can be presented for insurance verification without a registered My Number card. The insurer issues it free of charge to members covered by the relevant issuance rules, including those without a My Number card or health insurance registration. Contact the insurer if yours has not arrived, is lost or needs renewing; check the printed expiry date. Digital Agency: eligibility certificates

A 資格情報のお知らせ notice

This differs from a 資格確認書: when online verification fails, present the paper notice with the My Number card. A phone image of this notice is not accepted for that backup route. MHLW: backup verification

Only my old health insurance card

Ask your insurer which current document you should use and how to obtain it. Check the new document before a planned visit; the old card's former validity does not establish your current enrollment.

Ask receptionIf the card reader cannot verify you

Tell reception what happened. MHLW lists backup routes: the My Number card with Myna Portal eligibility information or the paper eligibility-information notice, and a declaration form in specified circumstances. Ask reception which process applies; do not assume a passport or residence card replaces insurance verification. MHLW: when online verification is unavailable

If your recorded coverage appears wrong, ask the insurer to check it. Ask the facility what it will charge while verification is unresolved, which receipts to keep and how any later adjustment would work. This guide cannot promise reimbursement or a payment amount.

ChecklistBefore a clinic or dental visit

Use these questions to confirm your own arrangements:

• Which insurer am I currently enrolled with, and from what date?
• Which current document should I present at the clinic, dentist and pharmacy?
• Does my document expire before the appointment?
• Have a move, job change or name change affected my insurance record?
• Is any separate municipal medical subsidy document needed for my circumstances?
• Whom should reception contact if my coverage cannot be verified?

MHLW notes that local medical subsidy documents may still need to be presented where the relevant digital system is not supported. Confirm the rule with your municipality and facility. MHLW: FAQ, municipal medical expense subsidies

For the rest of the visit, read How seeing a doctor works in Japan. That page covers appointments, referral questions, payment and prescriptions.

Questions you can copy

I would like to confirm my public health insurance enrollment and start date. Which document should I bring to a clinic now? Is my paper a 資格確認書 or a 資格情報のお知らせ? What should I do if the clinic cannot verify my coverage?

Must I obtain a My Number card to receive insured care?

The eligibility certificate provides a verification route for enrolled people who do not use a registered My Number card. Ask your insurer which issuance process applies to you. Digital Agency: receiving care without a registered card

Can I use only my phone?

MHLW says smartphone health insurance verification is available at facilities with compatible equipment after the required setup. Ask your facility whether it supports this route before relying on a phone alone. MHLW: smartphone verification

Does this prove that everything on my bill is insured?

No; ask the insurer and facility to confirm coverage for the service and identify any separate charges before a planned visit.

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Next review: 18 November 2026, or earlier if official guidance changes. Written with AI-assisted research and drafting. No sponsorship.

Information provided for planning purposes only. No diagnosis, treatment recommendations, or direct booking services.