Individual Number system

POINT

The Individual Number (My Number) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to all citizens and residents of Japan.
You may be required to enter your Individual Number on application forms submitted to the Health Insurance Society.

About the Individual Number system

The Individual Number system (Social Security and Tax Number System) is a system to enable accurate and efficient linkage of personal information in areas such as social security, tax, and disaster countermeasures, by assigning a unique 12-digit Individual Number (My Number) to every person registered on a certificate of residence.

Reference link: The Individual Number (My Number) system (Digital Agency) (in Japanese only)

Reference link: The Individual Number system (in the social security field) (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) (Choose English in “言語切替” at the site top.)

Purposes of adopting the Individual Number system

To improve administrative efficiency
The system will greatly reduce the time and effort required by national administrative agencies, local governments, and other organizations for various activities, including checking, transferring, and entering various types of information. By better linking multiple operations, the system will eliminate task duplication and other inefficiencies.
For a fair and equitable society
The system will make it easier to ascertain income and benefits received from other administrative services. This, in turn, will help prevent cases of unjustified avoidance of burdens or inappropriate receipt of benefits, while providing comprehensive assistance to those who really need it.
To improve convenience to the public
The system will simplify various administrative procedures and reduce the burden for the public—for example, by reducing the need to attach documents. The system will also allow members of the public to check the information concerning them held by administrative agencies and to receive notifications of and learn about various services such agencies can provide.

Individual Number Card (My Number Card)

The Individual Number Card is a plastic card with an embedded IC chip. The front shows the bearer’s name, address, date of birth, gender, and facial photograph. The back shows the bearer’s Individual Number and other information.
The Individual Number Card can be used as an ID card and to access various services (e.g., local government services, e-Tax and other electronic filing systems using digital certificates).
To apply for issuance, contact your municipal government.

Reference link: Individual Number Card general information site (Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems)

You can use your Individual Number Card as a health insurance card

Under the amended Health Insurance Act promulgated in May 2019, a system (online verification of eligibility) was introduced to enable use of Individual Number Cards as health insurance cards from March 2021. This system became fully operational on October 20, 2021. At medical care institutions and other facilities that have adopted online verification of eligibility, you can use your Individual Number Card as a health insurance card to verify eligibility information such as the health insurance society providing coverage. For details, see “You can use your Individual Number Card as a health insurance card.”

* This does not mean that you can no longer use your current health insurance card. The system adds the health insurance card functionality to Individual Number Cards.

◆Advantages

If you start employment, change jobs, or move to a new address, you can use your Individual Number Card as your health insurance card to receive medical care, without waiting for a new health insurance card. (You are still required to apply for membership to a health insurance society.)

Even if you have not obtained a Certificate of Application of Maximum Copayment Amount or other similar document in advance, you will be exempt from payment in excess of the maximum copayment amount under the High-Cost Medical Care Benefits system by consenting to provision of information on your Certificate of Application of Maximum Copayment Amount when using a Myna health insurance card.

Various other advantages that make the system more convenient include the ability to view your specific health checkup information, medication information, and medical care cost information on the Mynaportal and automatically enter medical care cost information to claim medical expenses deductions when filing your final income tax return.

Schedule for linkage to Individual Number Cards

April 2023	Medical care institutions, pharmacies, etc. are in principle required to adopt online verification of eligibility.
December 2, 2024	Integration of Individual Number Cards and health insurance cards. Current health insurance cards will no longer be issued and will be abolished. * Health insurance cards valid as of December 1, 2024 may be used for up to one year (until December 1, 2025). * If you do not have a Myna health insurance card after December 2, 2024, you will be issued an eligibility verification certificate without needing to apply for one. Using this certificate, you can continue to receive medical care as before. (If your Myna health insurance card is lost or damaged, apply to the Health Insurance Society to be issued an eligibility verification certificate.)

April 2023

Medical care institutions, pharmacies, etc. are in principle required to adopt online verification of eligibility.

December 2, 2024

Integration of Individual Number Cards and health insurance cards. Current health insurance cards will no longer be issued and will be abolished.

* Health insurance cards valid as of December 1, 2024 may be used for up to one year (until December 1, 2025).
* If you do not have a Myna health insurance card after December 2, 2024, you will be issued an eligibility verification certificate without needing to apply for one. Using this certificate, you can continue to receive medical care as before.
(If your Myna health insurance card is lost or damaged, apply to the Health Insurance Society to be issued an eligibility verification certificate.)

◆Myna Uketsuke

Medical care institutions and other facilities that accept Individual Number Cards as health insurance cards will display the Myna Uketsuke stickers or posters.

Reference link: General information on medical care institutions and pharmacies accepting Individual Number Cards as health insurance cards (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) (Choose English in “言語切替” at the site top.)

Caution:

When using your Myna health insurance card for the first time or when you have just been issued a new health insurance card due to a job change or other reason, please bring both your health insurance card and Individual Number Card, just in case.

Registration system of a bank and savings account to receive various benefits

The registration system of a bank and savings account to receive various benefits is a system that lets an individual optionally register with the Japanese government (Digital Agency) a savings account at a financial institution for receipt of benefits payable to that individual. By registering an account, you will be able to also receive health insurance benefits without having to enter the financial institution name, account no., and other information each time you apply.

Reference link: Registration system of a bank and savings account to receive various benefits (Digital Agency) (in Japanese only)

You can register a benefits receipt account on the Mynaportal.

Reference link: Registration of a public benefits receipt account (Mynaportal)

* Requires user registration or login.

Eligible health insurance benefits, etc.

Payment of Inpatient Meal Expenses, Inpatient Living Expenses, Medical Care Expenses, Home-Visit Nursing Care Expenses, and Transportation Expenses
Payment of Injury and Sickness Allowance
Payment of Funeral Expenses
Payment of Childbirth and Childcare Lump-Sum Grant
Payment of Maternity Allowance
Payment of Dependents’ Medical Care Expenses, Dependents’ Home-Visit Nursing Care Expenses, and Dependents’ Transportation Expenses
Payment of Dependents’ Funeral Expenses
Payment of Dependents’ Childbirth and Childcare Lump-Sum Grant
Payment of High-Cost Medical Care Benefits and High Aggregate Cost for Long-term Care Services
Additional benefits as stipulated by Health Insurance Society rules
Refund of insurance premiums paid by Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons and Special-Case Retired Insured Persons

Operation start timing

Operation will begin as each insurer completes the necessary preparations in or after October 2022.

Handling of Individual Numbers and specific personal information

Use of My Numbers and personal information that includes Individual Numbers (specific personal information) beyond the extent prescribed by law is prohibited.

Restrictions exist on use, provision, and collection of Individual Numbers

Scope of use of Individual Numbers
Use of Individual Numbers is limited by law to paperwork related to social security, tax, and disaster countermeasures as stipulated by law.
Request for provision of Individual Numbers
Persons in question may be asked to provide their Individual Numbers only to the extent required for document preparation paperwork related to social security and tax procedures.
Restrictions on request for provision of Individual Numbers / Restrictions on provision and collection of specific personal information
You may not request provision of, provide, or collect Individual Numbers, except as expressly permitted to do so in a limited manner by law.

The Health Insurance Society handles Individual Numbers as a Person in Charge of Processes Using Individual Numbers

A Person in Charge of Processes Using Individual Numbers refers to a national or local government agency, incorporated administrative agency, or similar party that uses Individual Numbers to process the administrative work stipulated in Appended Table 1 to the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures or in relevant ordinances.
As a Person in Charge of Processes Using Individual Numbers, The Health Insurance Society uses Individual Numbers within the scope of its necessary paperwork.