Healthcare
Japan — Healthcare: Private Insurance
Public insurance in Japan covers foreign residents who meet its requirements, such as residing in Japan for more than three months, and leaves a 30% copayment for working-age adults that private cover would supplement.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Health care insurance eligibility and copaymentsLast reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- Eligibility for public health insurance is not limited to Japanese citizens; foreign residents qualify if they meet the requirements, such as residing in Japan for more than three months.
- Working-age patients pay 30% at the counter, so private cover is a supplement to, not a replacement for, public insurance.
- Patients using a My Number Card or health insurance eligibility certificate pay 10% to 30% of total medical expenses at the counter.