YAML

Types of Health Insurance in Japan - YAML

A classification of health insurance types operated under Japan's universal health coverage system. There are three main categories: Employee Health Insurance (Kyokai Kenpo, Health Insurance Societies, Mutual Aid Associations), National Health Insurance, and Late-stage Elderly Medical Care System. Each differs in eligible participants, operating bodies, and premium burden methods. Understanding these characteristics helps in selecting appropriate medical coverage and understanding the social insurance system.

health insurance social insurance medical insurance universal health coverage Kyokai Kenpo health insurance society National Health Insurance mutual aid association

- code: "01"
  slug: "kyokai-kenpo"
  name: "Kyokai Kenpo (Japan Health Insurance Association)"
  description: "Health insurance for employees of small and medium-sized enterprises and their families."
  category: "Employee Health Insurance"
  operator: "Japan Health Insurance Association (Government-managed Health Insurance)"
  targetAudience: "Employees of SMEs and their families, voluntary continued insured persons"
  premiumBurden: "50-50 split between employer and employee"
  dependentSystem: "Yes (dependents are covered without additional premium)"
  selfBurdenRate: "Principally 30% (20% for those 70+, transition to Late-stage Elderly system at 75+)"
  cardColor: "Blue, light blue, orange, etc."
- code: "02"
  slug: "health-insurance-society"
  name: "Health Insurance Society (Union-managed Health Insurance)"
  description: "Corporate or industry-based health insurance for employees of large enterprises and their families."
  category: "Employee Health Insurance"
  operator: "Corporate or industry-based Health Insurance Societies"
  targetAudience: "Employees of large enterprises and their families"
  premiumBurden: "50-50 split between employer and employee"
  dependentSystem: "Yes"
  selfBurdenRate: "Principally 30%"
  cardColor: "Green, red, pink, etc."
- code: "03"
  slug: "mutual-aid-association"
  name: "Mutual Aid Association"
  description: "Health insurance for public servants and private school teachers."
  category: "Employee Health Insurance"
  operator: "Mutual aid associations of ministries, local governments, and school corporations"
  targetAudience: "National public servants, local public servants, private school teachers, etc."
  premiumBurden: "50-50 split between association members and employers (government, local authorities, school corporations, etc.)"
  dependentSystem: "Yes"
  selfBurdenRate: "Principally 30%"
  cardColor: "Yellow, light blue, etc."
- code: "04"
  slug: "national-health-insurance"
  name: "National Health Insurance (Kokuho)"
  description: "Region-based health insurance for self-employed persons, freelancers, and unemployed individuals."
  category: "Community-based Insurance"
  operator: "Municipalities, prefectures, and National Health Insurance associations (specific occupations)"
  targetAudience: "Self-employed persons, freelancers, unemployed individuals, students, retirees, etc."
  premiumBurden: "Full self-payment (calculated based on income and number of household members)"
  dependentSystem: "No (all family members are individual insured persons)"
  selfBurdenRate: "Principally 30% (varies by income)"
  cardColor: "Red, pink, purple, etc."
- code: "05"
  slug: "late-stage-elderly-medical-care"
  name: "Late-stage Elderly Medical Care System"
  description: "Medical care system for people aged 75+ and those 65+ with specific disabilities."
  category: "Elderly Medical Care"
  operator: "Prefectural Late-stage Elderly Medical Care Wide-area Unions and municipalities"
  targetAudience: "People aged 75+, and those aged 65-74 with specific disabilities"
  premiumBurden: "Burden based on income (with contributions from other insurance systems as support funds)"
  dependentSystem: "No (individual basis)"
  selfBurdenRate: "Principally 10% (30% for those with income comparable to active workers)"
  cardColor: "Green, purple, orange, etc."