Foreign residents in Japan may have to pay their National Health Insurance premiums in advance according to a new proposal by the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The LDP's proposal has called for introducing a system of prepayment at the time of enrolment for the foreign residents in the country.
The new proposal introduced by the party on 21 May 2025 will soon be submitted to the relevant ministries and agencies. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, foreigners with residency status who stay in Japan for more than three months are required to enrol in the National Health Insurance system.
A survey conducted by the ministry across approximately 150 local governments had revealed that the premium payment rate among foreign residents was 63%, much lower than the overall rate of 93% that includes Japanese nationals.
It was for the first time that the Japanese government conducted a survey on public health insurance usage by foreign residents living in the country. Some Japanese lawmakers had raised concerns that people may come in from overseas to take advantage of the support for expensive medical treatment.
Hence, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare organised the study into the actual state of insurance premiums paid by foreigners living in Japan and details of the benefits they receive.
The proposal prepared by LDP highlights a lack of understanding by foreigners regarding taxes and social insurance as a contributing factor, and suggests "actively informing foreign nationals about the system prior to their entry into Japan to promote their understanding."