When medical bills are too high

When you undergo expensive medical procedures such as sugery or being hospitalized, you can use a certain certificate (in Japanese, a nintei-sho, 認定証) to limit your medical bill to a set maximum amount. You need to show it to the hospital or medical facility when you plan to use it.

For hikazei households (low income families that are exempt from paying residence tax), this certificate will also reduce the price for meals received during hospitalization. In general, you must apply in advance to receive this certificate.

About the application process

If you fall under the following, you will need to apply in advance to receive the certificate:

• You are enrolled in national health insurance but the medical facility does not accept My Number cards that have been registered as health insurance cards
• You qualify for hikazei status and have been hospitalized for more than 90 days in the past 12 months, as well as would like to receive subsidized meals for your time spent in the hospital

Note: The certificate becomes active from the 1st of the month, starting the month you submit the application.

Regarding My Number Cards

If you have linked your My Number card and health insurance card, and you are receiving treatment at a medical facility that accepts My Number cards, you may not need to show a copy of the certificate. In that case you would also not need to apply in advance to receive the certificate, as your medical bills will already be adjusted.

Required items

You will need to submit the following:

• Health insurance card
• Photo ID
• My Number of all members in your household who are enrolled in national health insurance
• Certificate (nintei-sho)
• For hikazei households where you have been hospitalized in the last 12 months, receipts or other documents that prove how long you were in the hospital

If someone else is applying on your behalf, they will need to show photo ID as well

Inquiries

Health Insurance and Pension Division (City Hall 1st floor, counter 9)

Tel: 027-321-1235

Or any branch office's Citizen's Welfare Division