National health insurance name changes?

[KCLenny]

Hi all,
I have the basic national health insurance from Fushimi in Kyoto. I’m living with my wife (also British). She is the primary holder of the insurance as she was living here before me. So when I moved here later, I was added to it.
My wife isn’t working and I am so I think it’ll be better if it’s my name as the main holder.
Firstly, is this possible?
Secondly, if it is possible, how? What do I need to do/where do I need to go?
Thanks in advance for the advice guys
Connor

[adamu]

I think the person responsible for paying the health insurance is the leader of the household (世帯主) from the residence record (住民票).

You probably have to change the head of the household, then have to do a separate procedure to change the registered insurance details.

I'm just guessing though. Probably the best thing is for both of you to go to the ward office with ID, insurance cards, and inkans and explain what you want to do.

[Beaglehound]

Adamu is right, the head of household is responsible. As far as I am aware this person does not have to be the main breadwinner. Unless there is any hidden benefit of changing it to your name that I am unaware of, maybe it’s not worth the hassle?

[KCLenny]

I believe I’m the head of the household. But I’m sure our health insurance states my wife is the main and I’m a beneficiary or whatever.
It’ll be worth the hassle for the paperwork in the long run. As everything has my wife’s name on which means whenever I want to do something and they ask for receipts or whatever I can never show them anything because they just say it’s not in my name. I’ve been in the slow laborious process of changing everything, absolutely everything over to my name. My wife is just a house wife so it’s just better for everything to be in my name I think.