Zagdim Reader Desk · Japan healthcare and insurance
Healthcare and health insurance in JapanEnrolment, seeing a doctor and proof of eligibility
Living in Japan, you first need to establish which public health insurance scheme applies to you, then prepare the documents and language support for seeing a doctor. The Zagdim Reader Desk first establishes your employment and residence situation, then shortlists Japanese professionals where needed.
Who it is forEmployees, the self-employed and residents preparing to see a doctor
Handled byLabour and social security attorneys, lawyers and medical interpreters
LanguagesEnglish or Japanese; other languages on request
Reader Desk feeFree of charge
Information checked: 29 October 2026
01 · ABOUT
Before you see a doctor in Japan, which insurance applies?
Public health insurance in Japan turns first on your work and where you live. Employees are in principle enrolled by their company in employees’ health insurance; other people with an address in Japan are assessed under the rules for National Health Insurance (国民健康保険, kokuho). Private insurance is not a substitute for the public insurance procedures you are required to complete.
Take your proof of insurance eligibility when you see a doctor; treatment is the responsibility of the doctor.
JapanJapan
01Having an address does not always mean you can join National Health InsuranceThe purpose of your stay, other public insurance and the exclusions must still be checked.
02Share you payDepends on age, income and the treatment.
03Private insurancePolicy cover and the seller’s authorisation to solicit are confirmed separately.
Which situation are you in now?
Closest to your situation:
Starting a job
What appliesEmployees who meet the conditions are enrolled by the company in health insurance and Employees’ Pension Insurance (厚生年金).
DeadlineThe employer in principle files within 5 days of eligibility arising.
What to prepareEmployment details and your previous insurance record.
Next steps
Confirm your enrolment date with your company
Self-employed or not employed
What appliesPeople with an address in Japan and no other public insurance are assessed under the rules for joining National Health Insurance.
DeadlineFor acquiring eligibility and similar changes, in principle within 14 days, at the municipality where you live.
What to prepareYour address, residence details and the status of your previous insurance.
Next steps
Tell the Reader Desk which municipality you live in
Insured and preparing to see a doctor
What to bringYour My Number health insurance card, or an eligibility certificate (資格確認書) issued by your insurer.
What you payIn principle 30% from the start of compulsory schooling until the age of 70.
LanguageFirst confirm how the medical institution accepts patients and what interpreting can be arranged.
Next steps
Put together a summary of your medical history, your medication and your language needs
A short stay
A Temporary Visitor stay (短期滞在) is an exclusion under National Health Insurance, so you cannot join on the strength of visitor status alone. Other residence situations are confirmed by the local office.
Next steps
First confirm your status of residence and period of stay
02 · SERVICE
Which parts do the professionals help with?
Who charges what
What the Reader Desk does at no charge
Establishes what you need, sets it out in a written brief and, where needed, introduces a professional or an interpreter.
Professional fees
Quoted by the professional handling the matter once they understand your situation.
How payments flow
Zagdim does not charge readers a matching fee and does not handle payments for professional services. Providers quote case by case, and you contract with and pay the provider directly.
01Setting out the enrolment conditions
Confirms which insurance applies and which office handles it.
02Help with insurance paperwork
A labour and social security attorney (社会保険労務士) handles the enrolment and change documents they may be engaged for.
03Organising information for seeing a doctor
Brings together the medical institution’s published information and the documents for your visit.
04Arranging communication support
A medical interpreter is arranged where needed; treatment is the responsibility of the doctor.
03 · CASES
When is an engagement not needed?
In every caseIn a medical emergency, use the local emergency services directly; this page does not provide diagnosis or take emergency calls.
You may not need this service. If your company has already arranged health insurance and you only need to see a doctor, you can go directly with your proof of eligibility. For a diagnosis or advice on medication, contact a medical institution directly.
04 · SERVICE PROCESS
Who handles each step?
Who does each step is shown within the step.
EN·JAEnglish or JapaneseOther languages on request
01
Confirm address, employment and insurance status
You and the Reader Desk
02
Enrol or report a change
For employees the company files; for National Health Insurance you must apply to the municipality yourself
03
Engage a professional where needed
Enrolment documents, interpreting or disputes
04
Prepare to see a doctor
You take your eligibility documents to the medical institution
Not included
Medical treatment and medical decisions by a doctor
Sale of insurance without a check of authorisation
Paying medical or pharmacy bills, or arranging emergency care, on your behalf
What you need to prepare
Residence and address details
Employment and insurance records
Proof of insurance eligibility
Medical history and language needs, as required
05 · TIME
What are the deadlines for enrolment and changes?
Enrolment and changes have deadlines set by law. The timing of medical appointments and interpreting is confirmed by the medical institution and the person engaged.
In principle within 5 days of eligibility for enrolment arising
The employer enrols eligible employees in health insurance and Employees’ Pension Insurance
Within 14 days of acquiring or losing eligibility and similar changes
National Health Insurance notification
What you can do in advance: have your residence card, address details and previous insurance record ready. If you are going to see a doctor, put together a summary of your medical history and your medication.
06 · FEES
How are premiums, your share of medical costs and service fees divided?
Taxes and official fees
Public insurance premiumsCalculated by the insurer(According to income, remuneration, household and other conditions)
Standard patient share under public insurance30%(Only from the start of compulsory schooling until the age of 70; young children, older people, local subsidies and treatment outside insurance are calculated differently)
Professional and service fees
Documents and communication supportQuoted once your situation is understood(Interpreting and accompaniment itemised separately)
Zagdim Reader DeskFree of charge(Consultation, clarifying what you need and shortlisting professionals)
The budget falls into three parts: the monthly premium; your share of the cost when you see a doctor; and document and interpreting fees, which arise only if you choose to engage someone.
Professional fees are quoted by the professional or interpreter handling the matter once they understand your situation, and depend on the number of documents and the hours of interpreting or accompaniment. Medical and pharmacy costs are paid separately to the medical institution. If you decide to engage them, you contract with, pay and receive receipts from them directly.
07 · EXPERTS & PROFESSIONALS
Which Japanese professionals are involved?
Depending on the case, different Japanese professionals are involved.
Labour and social security attorney
社会保険労務士 · sharoshi
The applicable health insurance, pension and employer enrolment procedures.
Lawyer
弁護士 · bengoshi
Gives legal advice where a dispute arises over insurance benefits or a medical contract.
MATCHING
How Zagdim shortlists the right professionals
What you need
Zagdim Reader Desk
Clarifying the need
Matching providers
Follow-up at key points
The right professional
Zagdim Reader Desk
Establishes what you need · sets out a written brief · introduces a professional or interpreter where needed
No charge to readers
Professionals in Japan
Professional advice and handling
Quote · contract · payment · receipt
Tell the Reader Desk where you live first
You tell the Reader DeskThe city you live in and the help you need
The Reader Desk checksWhether a professional or interpreter can be arranged locally
The Reader Desk repliesIf no suitable provider is available, we say so plainly
08 · CONSULTATION
What to have ready before you get in touch
Zagdim Reader DeskFirst understand the situation, then shortlist the right professionals
Have the points below ready, then arrange a time by WhatsApp or email.
Whether you are currently employed, and whether your company has arranged health insurance
The municipality you live in and your period of stay
Whether you need to enrol, report a change or prepare to see a doctor
The Zagdim Reader Desk handles contact and follow-up.
Send us your details
The more you tell us, the better the Zagdim Reader Desk understands your situation before we speak.
Four steps after you get in touch
Contact the Reader DeskYou set out your work, your residence situation and what you need to do.
A written briefThe Reader Desk lists the applicable insurance, the deadlines and the documents to prepare.
Introduced by locationBefore the introduction, the written quote, out-of-pocket costs and conditions for extra charges are confirmed with the provider.
Quote and engagementYou decide whether to engage, and contract with and pay the provider directly.
09 · FAQ
Healthcare and health insurance in Japan: common questions
Can a short-term visitor join National Health Insurance directly?
Not on the strength of visitor status alone. A Temporary Visitor stay is an exclusion; other residence situations are confirmed by the local office.
When do you join and leave National Health Insurance?
Acquiring or losing eligibility for National Health Insurance, and similar changes, must in principle be notified to the municipality within 14 days.
If your company has enrolled you, do you still need to join National Health Insurance yourself?
Generally there is no need to be enrolled twice. First confirm the date your company health insurance takes effect, then withdraw from National Health Insurance at your local office.
Can you see a doctor without a My Number card?
Yes. If you have no My Number card, or have not registered it for insurance use, you can see a doctor with an eligibility certificate issued by your insurer.
Does everyone pay 30% when they see a doctor?
No. The share depends on age and income; it differs for young children and older people, and local subsidies are calculated separately.
Can the people helping with documents assess a medical condition?
No. Document and interpreting staff help only with paperwork and communication; the practice of medicine is in principle reserved to doctors.
First confirm the insurance that applies and the deadlines, then prepare your documents for seeing a doctor.
Official fees follow the current notices of the Japanese authorities. Quotes, contracts, payments and receipts for professional services are handled by the professional concerned; neither the Zagdim Reader Desk nor the professionals guarantee that any application or review will succeed. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice. Information checked to 29 October 2026.
What you need
Zagdim Reader Desk
The right professional
