MoneyInJapan

Japan’s public protection: start here

A map of health, pension, unemployment, work-injury, and employer-based protection.

Direct answers

Identify your public health plan, pension record, employment-insurance status, and workers’ compensation before pricing any private policy.

Public coverage first · 2026 edition

Benefits may vary by: insurer · employment status · municipality · household

Get professional or administrator help: Contact each administrator if enrollment records conflict or a claim deadline may be near.

Review due: 2026-10-30

Key points

  • Health insurance pays covered treatment; it does not replace all lost income.
  • Pension includes old-age, disability, and survivor protection.
  • Employment insurance covers qualifying unemployment and leave; workers’ compensation covers work or commuting injury.
  • Employees and self-employed people have different benefit gaps.

Which system does what

Health insurance, pension, employment insurance, and workers’ compensation are separate systems with separate claims. An employer’s health-insurance card does not prove every other enrollment. Check payslips, notices, Nenkin Net, and your insurer or municipality.

A public-first review order

List the event, public payer, eligibility, expected benefit, claim deadline, and uncovered loss. Then add employer benefits and savings. Only the remaining loss is a candidate for private insurance.

Who this is for

  • Residents mapping protection before shopping for private insurance

What this is not

  • A quote, policy ranking, or individualized recommendation
Important cautions
  • Eligibility, contributions, waiting periods, exclusions, and benefit amounts can vary. Confirm your case with the administering insurer or authority before acting.

Sources