Health insurance

What BRIDGE can tell you now

Start with one question: what health insurance covers you today? Municipal National Health Insurance is generally for residents who are not covered by another listed medical-insurance system and are not a dependent under one.

What to check

• ✓Identify your current coverage first: employee health insurance, dependent coverage, municipal National Health Insurance, another scheme, or not sure. Do not choose a procedure from employment status alone.
• ✓MHLW says that when you become or cease to be insured under National Health Insurance, the required documents generally need to be submitted within 14 days. The exact documents and filing method depend on the municipality or NHI association.
• ✓Starting or leaving a job can change your insurance, but the next route is not automatic. Confirm whether you entered employee insurance, became a dependent, need municipal NHI, or have another valid coverage path.
• ✓Check your municipality before visiting for the exact documents. Osaka City, for example, says employment-related NHI join/leave procedures require notification within 14 days and tells residents to consult the ward office if required documents are not ready within that period.

• MHLW — National Health Insurance eligibility and notifications →
• Osaka City — NHI procedures after starting or leaving a job →