Job Discussion Forums

tipo · Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Japan

I note after reading the November 2009 article stating that the bill linking health insurance to visa renewal has been withdrawn and sent back to the drawing board. Which means it could come back in its current form or be revised. We will wait and see.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

GambateBingBangBOOM: Well spotted! Thanks for pointing that out.

Having said that ... I wish people would stop saying that the new visa rule has been dropped. It hasn't! The only source for the claim is this unconfirmed leak via Ronald Kessler, who campaigns on behalf of private health insurers in Japan.

tipo · Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Japan

The proposed rule on linking visa renewal to health insurance has been dropped. This was reported in yesterday's Japan Times.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100202a1.html

tipo · Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Japan

http://www.generalunion.org
'Health Insurance and Your Visa

The above article stated that the General Union is yet to confirm with Immigration Bureau officials a report in the Japan Times that the visa renewal guideline requiring proof of enrolement in 'legally' acceptable health insurance will be removed.

seklarwia · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject:

The drop may not have been confirmed yet, but I just renewed my visa and was not asked if I was on Shakai Hoken or Kokuho nor given any info about insurance. Perhaps the new regulations in whatever form they will take will come into effect next year?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

From that Japan Times article:

"The bureau will delete item No. 8 by the end of March, and 'lightly mention' the need to present a health insurance card in the introductory passage of the guideline," Immigration Bureau spokesman Yoshikazu Iimura told The Japan Times.

Just wait a less than 3 weeks, and you'll know if this spokesman is right.

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

I just returned from immigration and for what it is worth, not a peep about whether or not I was enrolled in Shakai Hoken or the Kokumin program.

What the gentleman did request, and this is a first for me, was proof that I had paid my taxes for the last 2 years.

I'm off to city office to get my tax papers and about an $1200 bill for 6 months of unpaid taxes.