The Society's insurance premiums
You must pay insurance premiums when you join a health insurance program. While insurance premiums are based on your income (e.g., total remuneration including salary and bonuses), methods between monthly salary and bonuses for calculating the premiums differ.
- Description
- FAQ
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- Payment for insurance premiums is shared by the insured person and his or her employer. The amount paid by the insured person is deducted from salary and bonuses.
- After you reach age 40, premiums for long-term care insurance will be collected as well.
Method of calculating insurance premiums
Since the amounts of remuneration received by insured persons are not perfectly uniform and fluctuate from month to month, calculating premiums based on each individual's actual remuneration amount is impractical. For this reason, insurance premiums are calculated based on a standard value (standard monthly remuneration) determined corresponding to a certain ranges of remuneration amounts. Note that health insurance premiums remain unchanged regardless of whether you have dependents or the number of dependents.
"The standard bonus" is the bonus amount (for these purposes capped at a cumulative annual maximum of 5.73 million yen) rounded down to the nearest 1,000 yen.
The Society's insurance premium rates
| General insurance premium rate | Long-term care insurance premium rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage paid by insured person | 40‰ | 9.5‰ |
| Percentage paid by employer | 49‰ | 9.5‰ |
| Total | 89‰ (Including regulation insurance premium rate) |
19‰ |
- To reduce financial burdens while taking childcare or similar leave, Health Insurance Associations exempt insured persons and their employers from the payment of insurance premiums during the period of such leave in cases where employers have applied for such exemption. This exemption applies from the month in which the leave starts through the month immediately preceding the month that includes the day following the end of the leave.
ColumnReference dates for determining your standard monthly remuneration
Your standard monthly remuneration is first determined when you obtain your eligibility as an insured person. However, the standard monthly remuneration is revised every year. It is also revised if your remuneration changes significantly.
| Upon hiring (date on which eligibility begins) | Determined based on your starting pay and other factors |
|---|---|
| As of July 1 each year (updated periodically) | In principle, the standard monthly remuneration for all insured persons is revised as of July 1, based on their remuneration for April, May, and June of that year. The revised standard monthly remuneration will apply to the period from September 1 through August 31 of the following year. |
| When your remuneration changes significantly (revised as needed) | Your standard monthly remuneration will be revised if your average monthly remuneration over a period of three consecutive months changes by two or more grades due to a change in fixed wages: for example, when you receive a raise. |
| End of childcare or other leave (revised upon end of leave) | For an insured person caring for a child less than three years of age as of the end date of childcare leave or similar leave, if remuneration is lower because the insured person is working reduced working hours or for other reasons, he or she may apply for a revision. |
| End of maternity leave (revised upon end of leave) | For an insured person caring for the child for whom maternity leave was granted as of the last day of maternity leave, if remuneration is lower because the insured person is working reduced working hours or for other reasons, she may apply for a revision. |
Insurance premium rate
Insurance premiums consist of health insurance premiums and long-term care insurance premiums. The amount of each premium is determined by multiplying the standard monthly remuneration and standard bonus by the insurance premium rate for each type of insurance.
Health insurance premiums
Health insurance premiums are generally used to help defray health insurance benefits. They also serve as financial resources for paying the cost of support for medical care for the elderly.
The Association is free to determine its health insurance premium rate within the range of 3-13%, based on its specific needs and circumstances. Based on its specific needs and circumstances, it is also free to determine the shares paid by the employer and insured persons.
Regulation insurance premiums
Health insurance associations in Japan jointly operate systems providing joint coverage of high-cost medical expenses and aid for societies facing dire financial circumstances (financial adjustments). Regulation insurance premiums fund these systems from health insurance premiums.
The insurance premium rate for these premiums is determined by multiplying the basic regulation insurance premium rate (0.13%) by the rate of slight variation (i.e., the rate of adjustment) based on the financial state of each society.
Long-term care insurance premiums
While the long-term care insurance system is operated by each municipality across Japan, each medical care insurers (such as health insurance associations) collect long-term care insurance premiums and health insurance premiums from insured persons and dependents aged 40-64 who join the medical care scheme (both are regarded as category 2 insured persons under long-term care insurance). Long-term care insurance premiums paid by insured persons include long-term care insurance premiums for dependent family members.
No long-term care insurance premiums are collected from insured persons younger than 40 years of age.
See “The long-term care insurance program” concerning insurance premiums for persons aged 65 or older.
ColumnWhat are insurance premiums used for?
For insurance benefits
Insurance premiums are used to pay for medical care benefits and other benefits, a health insurance association's central mission. They are also used to promote health measures and to help fund mutual aid systems among health insurance associations.
To support medical care for the elderly and other individuals
Insurance premiums are used not just to cover the costs of the various services provided by health insurance associations, but to cover the cost of supporting medical care for the elderly. Significant support payments are made to medical care systems for the elderly, including the Medical Care System for the Advanced Elderly. The rising costs accompanying aging throughout society are a major cause of financial difficulties facing health insurance associations.
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