Health insurance in Japan

cloa513 · (#1 (**permalink**))

What are the rules now if you are obtain a spouse visa? What would you do if you were going to Japan to marry your Japanese partner- obtain travel insurance for how long?

Tsuwabuki · (#2 (**permalink**))

Do you intend to live and work in Japan?

cloa513 · (#3 (**permalink**))

Yes- I seek to marry soon after arrival in Japan but we haven't set a date. Seek work after obtaining spouse visa.

Tsuwabuki · (#4 (**permalink**))

Then you have two options. You either go through the city, or you go through your employer. You have the choice, although going through the city for national health insurance is usually for those working under 28 hours a week.

I actually work forty hours a week, but choose to be on the national health insurance because I'm happy with it.

cloa513 · (#5 (**permalink**))

Except what to before actually working.

Nyororin · (#6 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloa513

Except what to before actually working.

Laws have changed to require enrollment in one of the health care systems when you register for residence - so you will have to join one.

The best plan I can think of is to get international travel insurance up until your wedding, enroll in the national health care when you do become a resident, and then either stick with that or change over to national employee insurance when you do find a job.

blimp · (#7 (**permalink**))

once you are married and if you don't make more than 1,400,000 yen/year (?) you might be able to use the 扶養家族　system. it basically means that your spouse through his/her insurance will cover you too. i think that this will not cost him/her extra. nyororin, perhaps you can confirm or correct me?

Nyororin · (#8 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by blimp

once you are married and if you don't make more than 1,400,000 yen/year (?) you might be able to use the 扶養家族　system. it basically means that your spouse through his/her insurance will cover you too. i think that this will not cost him/her extra. nyororin, perhaps you can confirm or correct me?

I believe it does cost extra for a spouse - but not that much. I know for certain that if you are covered you will also need to have your spouse paying your pension payments, which is definitely more.
You were close on the yearly income - it`s 1,300,000 yen/year.

My husband started working after we`d gotten married so I have nothing to compare to check - but I do know that it went up about 1000yen a month when our son was born.