Japan Transitions to My Number Cards for Health Insurance by December 2025

Japan is phasing out its traditional national health insurance cards by December 1, 2025, transitioning to the use of My Number cards which will now include health insurance information. Starting December 2, 2025, individuals will be required to present a My Number card with insurance details or a certificate of eligibility (shikaku kakuninsho) when accessing health services. To minimize disruption, medical institutions may continue to accept expired health insurance cards until March 2026. The My Number card system began issuing cards in 2016 and added the functionality to incorporate health insurance information in March 2021. By December 2024, the government will cease issuing the traditional health insurance cards, moving fully to the My Number system. For those without a My Number card or those who choose not to incorporate insurance information on their card, a certificate of eligibility issued by insurers can be used instead, which requires no application and should be received by mid-November. Registration for incorporating insurance data onto a My Number card can be completed at dedicated terminals in medical institutions or pharmacies. New applications for My Number cards can be completed online, by mail, or through designated channels using a QR code sent in 2022. This transition represents a significant modernization in Japan's approach to health insurance verification and is closely monitored for efficiency and compliance implications within medical and insurance sectors.