🏥 Kagoshima Typhoon 18: No Card Needed

❓ What's happening?

On October 1, 2026, the Japan Health Insurance Association (Kyokai Kenpo) announced that people affected by the Typhoon No. 18 disaster in Kagoshima Prefecture can receive medical care even if they do not have their My Number health card or eligibility certificate ("health insurance ID") with them. This covers both those who lost the ID in the disaster and those who evacuated leaving it at home. At the hospital or clinic counter, you only need to state four things: (1) your name, (2) your date of birth, (3) a contact number, and (4) the name of the company you work for. Treatment is then accepted as insured care even though your eligibility cannot be verified on the spot. Normally you must present your health insurance ID at each visit; if you cannot, you pay the full cost yourself first and later file a claim for reimbursement. This disaster measure removes that upfront payment and paperwork for people whose ID is unavailable. The areas covered are the municipalities to which the Disaster Relief Act applies, and the association directs people to the Cabinet Office page listing those municipalities.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Kyokai Kenpo policyholders affected by Typhoon No. 18 in Kagoshima Prefecture (employees and part-timers enrolled through their workplace)
• ●Family members enrolled as their dependents under Kyokai Kenpo
• ●Anyone who lost their My Number health card or eligibility certificate in the disaster
• ●Anyone who evacuated and left the card at home
• ●People in municipalities covered by the Disaster Relief Act (check the Cabinet Office list)

🌏 Impact on foreign residents

Foreign nationals working in Japan are Kyokai Kenpo members too if they are enrolled in health insurance through their employer. The point of this measure is that you do not have to skip treatment, or pay the full bill yourself, just because your insurance ID is lost or left behind. One thing to watch: one of the four items is the name of your employer. If you cannot say the Japanese company name accurately, the counter process can stall, so keep your company name (ideally in kanji) plus your own name, date of birth and phone number written in your phone notes or on paper you can grab when evacuating. If a family member goes to the clinic, they should also be able to give the employed person's company name. Note that this notice is for Kyokai Kenpo members: if you are on National Health Insurance, check with your city or ward office, and short-term visitors should contact their travel insurer. If language is a worry, calling the Kyokai Kenpo prefectural branch before your visit is an option.