Family membership
Health insurance provides insurance benefits not just to insured persons but also to their dependent family members. These family members are referred to as “dependents”. Family members must meet certain conditions related to “residency in Japan,” “the extent of the family relationship,” and “income” before they are authorized as dependents.
Adding a family member
| Required documents: |
|
| Deadline: |
Within five days after the reason for adding the family member arises |
| Applies to: |
Insured persons for whom the number of dependent family members increases due to marriage, childbirth, etc. |
| Address inquiries to: |
Department in charge of the affiliated company |
| Notes: |
See the Description page for information on standards for certifying dependents. |
Documents to attach for dependents who qualify for exceptions to the domestic residency requirement even though they do not have addresses in Japan
| Reasons for exception |
Certifying documentation |
| (1) |
Student studying abroad |
Copy of visa, student ID, certificate of school attendance, certificate of school admission |
| (2) |
Family member accompanying an insured person posted abroad |
Copy of visa, written appointment overseas, certificate of residence issued by a foreign public agency, etc. |
| (3) |
Person traveling abroad temporarily for sightseeing, recreation, volunteer activities, or other reasons unrelated to employment |
Copy of visa, certificate of agency dispatched for volunteer activities, certificate of consent to participate in volunteer activities |
| (4) |
Person recognized as equivalent to (2) above due to family relationship to an insured person arising while the insured person is posted abroad |
Copy of documentation certifying birth, marriage, etc. |
| (5) |
In addition to (1)-(4) above, person recognized to have a livelihood based in Japan in consideration of purposes of traveling abroad and other circumstances |
Subject to determination on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Health Insurance Society. |
- Note: If documents were prepared in a foreign language, please attach a Japanese translation signed by the translator.
Removing a family member
| Required documents: |
Health insurance card (for the dependent to be removed, until December 1, 2025) |
| Deadline: |
Within five days after the reason for adding the family member arises |
| Applies to: |
When family members become ineligible to obtain insurance
(Applicable persons)
- When the dependent finds a job and obtains health insurance from their new workplace. (This person is no longer considered a dependent regardless of their income. Note that it is not possible to obtain health insurance from two different places at the same time).
- When the dependent’s annual income is 1.3 million yen or more (or when it is 1.8 million yen or more in the case of a dependent who is at least 60 years old or disabled).
- When the dependent gets married and is no longer in a dependent relationship.
- When the insured person gets divorced and is no longer in a dependent relationship with the dependent.
- When there is a separation or other change in the living situation that results in the dependency requirements no longer being satisfied.
- When the dependent dies.
- When the dependent becomes a member of the latter-stage elderly healthcare system.
A) When the dependent reaches the age of 75
B) When the dependent is 65 to less than 75 years old and has received a disability certification
|
| Address inquiries to: |
Department in charge of the affiliated company |
| Remarks: |
Note that if someone goes to a hospital using a health insurance association insurance card without notification, they will later be asked to pay back any medical expenses, benefits, etc. for the date starting when they lost their dependent status. |