Key Facts
• Paper health insurance cards will no longer be valid starting August 1, 2025.
• Transition to ‘My Number Insurance Card’ is part of a nationwide policy shift.
• Over 80% of cardholders have registered for ‘My Number Insurance Card,’ but usage is only 30.64%.
• Qualification certificates are issued for those without ‘My Number Insurance Card’ but delays are reported.
• Some municipalities, like Tokyo’s Ota Ward, dispatched 24,000 certificates by late July.
• The Ministry of Health allows expired paper cards to confirm insurance eligibility until March 2026.
• Concerns arise as some individuals, especially the elderly, report not receiving certificates.
• Experts highlight discrepancies in expiration dates and relocation procedures as potential causes for delays.
Summary
Starting August 1, 2025, paper health insurance cards will no longer be valid, marking a significant shift to the ‘My Number Insurance Card’ system. While over 80% of cardholders have registered, actual usage remains low at 30.64%. For those without the new card, qualification certificates serve as a temporary alternative, but delays in their delivery have sparked concerns, particularly among elderly citizens. Municipalities like Ota Ward have expedited certificate dispatches, yet some individuals still report non-receipt. Experts attribute delays to varying expiration dates and relocation-related procedural gaps. To mitigate confusion, the Ministry of Health has introduced a temporary measure allowing expired paper cards to confirm insurance eligibility until March 2026. This transition highlights the challenges of implementing large-scale policy changes, especially for vulnerable populations.
