🏥 Treatment Without Your Insurance Card

❓ What is this measure?

On August 27, 2026, the Japan Health Insurance Association (JHIA, commonly called Kyokai Kenpo) announced a special arrangement for members affected by the heavy rain that began that day in Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures: they can receive insured medical care even without their insurance credentials on hand. Normally, insured treatment requires you to present either a My Number Card registered for use as a health insurance card ("My Number health card") or an eligibility confirmation certificate (shikaku kakuninsho). If you can present neither, the medical institution charges the full cost on the spot and you must later apply for reimbursement as a medical expense claim (ryoyohi) — a heavy burden right after a disaster, when cash on hand is limited. Under this measure, even if you lost the card while evacuating or left it at home, you can be treated as a normally insured patient by telling the reception desk four things: (1) your full name, (2) your date of birth, (3) contact details such as a phone number, and (4) the name of the workplace through which you are enrolled. There is no need to wait for a replacement document. The arrangement covers municipalities designated under the Disaster Relief Act; the current list of designated municipalities is published on the Cabinet Office website.

👥 Who is covered?

• ●Kyokai Kenpo (JHIA) members affected by the heavy rain from August 27, 2026 in Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures — typically employees of small and medium-sized companies
• ●Dependents covered under the same member's health insurance
• ●Anyone who lost their My Number health card or eligibility certificate while evacuating, or left it behind at home
• ●Residents of municipalities designated under the Disaster Relief Act (check the list on the Cabinet Office website)

🌏 Impact on foreign residents

Toyama and Ishikawa are home to many foreign workers in manufacturing, caregiving and construction, and a large share of them are enrolled in Kyokai Kenpo through their employer. When you evacuate you can only carry so much, so leaving your My Number Card or eligibility certificate at home is entirely realistic. If you don't know about this measure, you may assume you will be billed the full 100% without an insurance card and put off seeing a doctor even when you feel unwell. There are only four things to remember: your name, date of birth, contact details, and the name of your workplace. The employer name is usually requested in its formal Japanese form, so it is worth saving the wording from your payslip or employment contract on your phone. If explaining in Japanese worries you, ask your workplace contact or your municipality's foreign-resident consultation desk for interpretation support. Don't endure symptoms or run out of regular medication — seek care early.