Important to know^^; Traditional health insurance cards won't result in 100% out-of-pocket costs even if expired. Until March 2026

Traditional health insurance cards won't result in 100% out-of-pocket costs even if expired. Until March 2026

Thank goodness♥😘🫶♫

[This is a true story from my own experience]

The other day, when I visited a clinic and presented my insurance card to pay for medical expenses, I was shocked to find it had expired, leading to a situation where I had to pay 100% of the costs upfront instead of the usual 30% co-pay.

Not only that, but in addition to the clinic visit fee, the cost of medicine at the pharmacy using the prescription also became a 100% out-of-pocket expense.

Combined, I ended up having to pay tens of thousands of yen for something that should have only cost a few thousand yen😭😭😭

The clinic and pharmacy informed me that they could issue a refund if I presented my [Eligibility Confirmation Document] at a later date, but that I must also present the original receipt from this visit.

So, after that, I went into a nearby cafe, regained my composure, and checked various things. I realized I had forgotten about an envelope from my health insurance provider that had been in my mailbox and was still tucked away in my bag. When I checked it,

I noticed that it contained an 'Insurance Eligibility Confirmation Document' that had been updated this September, along with an invoice for unpaid renewal fees^^;

I hurriedly paid the fee at a nearby convenience store, then presented the [Eligibility Confirmation Document] to the clinic and pharmacy where I had paid the 100% rate earlier. About two hours later, I was successfully able to get a refund for the 70% portion♥✨☺️

■ Even if your insurance card is gone, you do not become 'uninsured'

Even if your traditional insurance card expires, [your health insurance eligibility itself does not disappear. Your right to receive insured medical care at medical institutions remains exactly the same as before.]

What changes is the 'method of proving insurance eligibility' at the reception desk. From December 2nd onwards, there will be two main methods.

▶ Visiting with a 'Myna Insurance Card'

▶ Visiting with an 'Eligibility Confirmation Document'

* A 'Myna Insurance Card' refers to a My Number Card linked to your health insurance card.

■ Visiting with a 'Myna Insurance Card'

This is the method of using a 'Myna Insurance Card,' which is a My Number Card registered for use as a health insurance card. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare lists the following three points as the main benefits.

Benefits:

▶ You can receive better medical care based on past medication and treatment data

▶ Prevents high out-of-pocket payments in the event of sudden surgery or hospitalization

▶ Used in emergency situations for appropriate first aid during transport and hospital selection

Other benefits include the simplification of medical expense deduction applications.

On the other hand, some people have expressed doubts about the My Number Card system itself due to concerns about information leaks and resistance to centralized management by the government.

■ How to register?

If you have a My Number Card, you can easily register it using card readers with facial recognition at medical institutions and pharmacies, the "Myna Portal" app on your smartphone, or at Seven Bank ATMs.

■ If you do not use the Myna Insurance Card

For those who say,

"I don't have a My Number Card"

or "Even if I have one, I haven't registered it as an insurance card,"

[A 'Certificate of Eligibility' will be sent to you automatically without the need to apply. This will serve as a replacement for your previous plastic or paper insurance card.]

[Who will receive it?]

Those who do not have a Myna Insurance Card as of April 30, 2025, etc.

[When will it arrive?]

It will be sent to your home via specific recorded mail or similar methods sequentially by the health insurance provider you are enrolled in (Kyokai Kenpo, health insurance unions, local governments, etc.) from late July to late October 2025.

[What is it like?]

In Nagasaki City, it is a document roughly the same size as a conventional health insurance card (card type). It contains your name, date of birth, insurer number, etc.

[How do I use it?]

You can receive insurance-covered medical care by presenting it at the reception desk of a medical institution, just like a conventional insurance card.

[What is the expiration date?]

Up to

[Within 5 years. It will be automatically renewed as the expiration date approaches.

*This is the same as previous insurance cards.]

■ Caution! The 'Eligibility Confirmation Document' and 'Notification of Eligibility Information' are different things

As a point of caution, there are cases where a document called 'Notification of Eligibility Information,' which looks similar to the 'Eligibility Confirmation Document,' is also sent.

▶ Eligibility Confirmation Document:

This single document serves as a substitute for an insurance card (you can receive medical care with it).

▶ Notification of Eligibility Information:

A supplementary document for My Number insurance card users to confirm their own insurer number, etc. (you cannot receive medical care with this).

Even if reception via the My Number insurance card does not go well for some reason, you will not be charged 100% of the cost; you will pay the same out-of-pocket amount as before. Please consult with the hospital reception or similar staff.

From a report by Nagasaki Broadcasting

This is valuable information that you would lose out on if you didn't know it.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FuW8ynjVn/