Starting Dec. 2, Japan's conventional health insurance cards will no longer be usable. However, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Nov. 12 notified medical institutions to implement measures to ensure patients are not charged the full 100% of medical costs if insurance eligibility can be confirmed, even if they bring their old cards. Below, the Mainichi Shimbun answers questions readers may have about the transition to the "My Number insurance card" and the status of traditional health insurance cards.

Question: Why will conventional health insurance cards become unusable?

Answer: This is due to the transition to the My Number insurance card, in which "My Number" national ID cards incorporate health insurance information. In December 2024, the Japanese government stopped issuing conventional insurance cards and set a transitional measure valid for up to one year, which ends on Dec. 1. The health ministry has instructed medical institutions not to charge the full cost if insurance eligibility can be confirmed until the end of March 2026, even if patients bring their traditional cards.

Q: Who will be affected?

A: Newly included in this measure are company workers and public servants, among others. Health insurance cards under the medical care system for those aged 75 and older and many national health insurance cards managed by local governments expired at the end of July this year. In June, the ministry had already issued similar instructions for these cases.

Q: What else has the health ministry requested?

A: The ministry has also called for encouraging patients to bring a "certificate of eligibility," which can be used in the same way as the My Number insurance card or conventional insurance card, for future visits.

(Mainichi)