Welcome to City of Higashimurayama

National Health Insurance

Joining and Payment

Japan's health insurance system calls for “health insurance for each and every citizen” which means everyone who lives in Japan will be insured by some public medical insurance. Public medical insurance is largely divided into two programs: the employees health insurance program in which company employees are automatically insured and the National Health Insurance Program designed for local residents such as the self- employed. The National Health Insurance Program is managed by the municipal office. If you are not insured by your employer and have a status of residence which allows you to stay in Japan for one year or more, please join the National Health Insurance Program. When you pay the premium, you will be issued a National Health Insurance Certificate. When you receive medical treatment under this program by showing your certificate, 70% of the medical costs will be paid by the insurance. This program is not applicable for pregnancy, child birth and certain medical treatment such as dental treatment. However, a specified amount of money is given when an insured person gives birth, when an insured person dies, and an insured person has to bear an extraordinary amount of medical expenses.


When an insured person in the National Health Insurance Program gives birth, ￥350,000 will be paid for each child as a lump-sum birth grant. This allowance also applies to a stillbirth or miscarriage as long as the mother was pregnant for 84 days (12 weeks) or longer.


Your insurance premium is calculated according to your household income last year and the number of family members . The upper ceiling for premiums is set a・ ￥530,000 for one year. Meanwhile, there is a system to reduce the payment of premiums because your income last year was below a specified level.  A bill (6 installments: due at the end of July, August, September November, December and February) is mailed to the head of your household once a year. You can pay the premium at financial institutions such as banks, post offices and the cashier counter of the city office. Automatic withdraw from your bank and post office accounts is also available.


(1) Portion for Medical Treatment

Annual Premium = Income Variable + Property Variable + Fixed Amount + Equal Amount (The upper ceiling of premiums is set at ￥530,000 as December 2006.) Income Variable = (Total Household Income for the previous year - Basic Deduction) x 5.8/100 Property Variable = Property Tax Amount for the Concerned Fiscal Year x 10/100 (city planning tax not included) Fixed Amount = Number of Covered Household Members x ￥22,800 Equal Amount = ￥12,000 per household

(2) Portion for Nursing Annual Premium = Income Variable + Fixed Amount (The upper ceiling of premiums is set at ￥80,000 as of December 2006.) Income Variable = (Total Household Income for the previous year - Basic Deduction) x 1.20/100 Equal Amount = ￥13,600 per household


Everyone with a domicile in Japan, with a visa permitting residence of more than a year, and holding a Foreign Resident Registration Card can join Kokuho (National Health Insurance Plan). Eligibility for health insurance does not get validated from the date of application but from the date that you should have completed your enrollment procedures, or become to eligible to apply for Kokuho, which you need to do it within 14 days at the National Health Insurance and Pension Section in the following the cases;


(1) When you move in Higashi-Murayama City

(2) When you withdraw from a health insurance program provided by your employer

(3) When your visa status has changed from “Short-term” to “Student” or “Family.”

(4) When a baby is born

(5) When the financial assistance welfare program is discontinued

* However, those foreign residents whose visa period of stay have expired and visa status are short-term, who definitely will not be staying in Japan for a year or longer, and who are on a Diplomatic visa and who are eligible for health insurance at their place of employment, are not qualified for erollment.

When you moved in Higashimurayama, you are required to submit the following documents to apply for Kokuho:

1. Your Foreign Resident Registration card

2. Any document that proves your income in the previous year (cf. Gensen Chosyu hyo issued annually by the employer)

* If you move to the city in the months of January through March, you’re required to submit the Gensen Chosyu hyo of the two years prior to your current income.

3. Student ID (foreign students only). *

4. Certificate of loss of insurance eligibility if you have recently resigned from your place of work.



The certification of Kokuho (National Health Insurance card) is mailed later to your postal address on your application. If you apply to Kokuho for the first time or newly move into the city, it is likely to take about two weeks for the procedures. Please contact with a local post office to make sure that you will receive it. Also, if any changes of your information have been occurred with your status, for example, name, address and so on, please contact with the National Health Insurance Office (Hokennenkin-ka) at the city hall.



After completion of Kokuho, the forms for Kokuho (a municipal health insurance) tax will be mailed to your address a few months later. It will be sent under the name of the head of household. You can pay it at local post offices, banks, or at Nozei-ka (a collecting tax section) at the city hall. The bills will come out within a small booklet and be mailed to you later in the middle of July following next year. As Kokuho is a mutual benefit medical insurance program in which all members pay into a pool of insurance tax, each of policy holders are responsible for the payment. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!


(1) When you move out of Higashi-Murayama City
(2) When you join a health insurance program provided by your employer
(3) When you leave Japan for an indefinite period of time
(4) When you start receiving the financial assistance welfare program
(5) When a covered person dies


(1) When information printed on your foreign registration card such as your address has changed
(2) When you have lost your national health insurance certificate

Information: Hoken Nenkin-ka (National Health Insurance and Pension Section) Tel 393-5111