Zairyu card request at Hospital

[RetireJapan]

Many Japanese won't have photo ID. So there can not be a requirement to show it.

Read the Q&A I posted from the MHLW

The healthcare card is already a valid form of ID.

Doesn't have a photo, which is why I presume they are scrapping them next year.

Yes, but they are not scrapped yet. What should a Japanese who doesn’t have a passport, MyNumber card or driving license present for photo ID?

That's also addressed in the Q&A.

(they need to bring a copy of their jyuuminhyou apparently)

[Deep Blue]

So, requesting a zairyu card isn't on then..... like I said... there can not be a requirement to show photo ID at hospitals as that would prevent many Japanese from being able to use them.

[RetireJapan]

there can not be a requirement to show photo ID at hospitals as that would prevent many Japanese from being able to use them.

There is not a requirement to show anything. Hospitals can ask for supplemental ID when they feel it is necessary, and they seem to be interpreting that in various ways. Hence the Q&A from the Ministry I posted above.

Have also had quite a few comments following the YouTube show from people who have been asked for ID when visiting hospitals and clinics. Like police ID checks, I get the feeling this is more common in Tokyo, and more common if you are a non-white foreign-looking person.

[Wales4rugbyWC23]

I went back this morning to have the stiches out, and I was thinking if it was worth pursuing with management higher up, but it is one of those big Accident and Emergency hospitals where quite frankly they have got more important things to deal with.

I really do think I am lucky having an A & E on my doorstep where I can easily walk in and be dealt with for a minor emergency, quickly seen to, and not that much out of pocket. I know that this does not happen in my own country's hospitals.

Although don't get me started on how my national health insurance premiums are worked out for someone over 40 years old.

[beanhead]

I went back this morning to have the stiches out, and I was thinking if it was worth pursuing with management higher up, but it is one of those big Accident and Emergency hospitals where quite frankly they have got more important things to deal with.

This is a very good point.
The admin lady should probably be re-trained, but it is not the end of the world.

Just thinking aloud, but if Japan continues to increase immigration in the future, and the somewhat rigid nature of many public officials doesn't change, this kind of conflict could be an everyday occurrence.

[Deep Blue]

I went back this morning to have the stiches out, and I was thinking if it was worth pursuing with management higher up, but it is one of those big Accident and Emergency hospitals where quite frankly they have got more important things to deal with.

This is a very good point.
The admin lady should probably be re-trained, but it is not the end of the world.

Just thinking aloud, but if Japan continues to increase immigration in the future, and the somewhat rigid nature of many public officials doesn't change, this kind of conflict could be an everyday occurrence.

If you’re black or brown I suspect it’s already a common occurrence. One of my Indian colleagues is stopped by police for a “check” multiple times a year. I’ve never been stopped once in twelve so far.

[beanhead]

If you’re black or brown I suspect it’s already a common occurrence. One of my Indian colleagues is stopped by police for a “check” multiple times a year. I’ve never been stopped once in twelve so far.

True, or non-Japanese Asian, too, I guess. I have never been stopped randomly by police. Here for more than 20 years.

[Moneymatters]

I went back this morning to have the stiches out, and I was thinking if it was worth pursuing with management higher up, but it is one of those big Accident and Emergency hospitals where quite frankly they have got more important things to deal with.

This is a very good point.
The admin lady should probably be re-trained, but it is not the end of the world.

Just thinking aloud, but if Japan continues to increase immigration in the future, and the somewhat rigid nature of many public officials doesn't change, this kind of conflict could be an everyday occurrence.

@Wales. Ouch! hope you are recovering quickly!

@BH. (Or anyone with 90 seconds to waste reading this next bit of drivel..)..

Mrs Matters. Despite some disparaging intonations (purely for comedic effect) that I may have made in the past painting her as some wannabe Kardashian with shades of Imelda Marcos, does actually have a part time job the past few years.

I'll avoid specifics, but it's one of the mado-guchi desks at a municipal office that provides service to all residents.
And it provides access to a rich vein of "Claimer" stories. I'm not exactly sure if it's the setting (too warm in winter, to warm in summer), wasted vacation day, archaic process, lack of transparency or sheer pettiness of what people are subjected to that triggers them. But boy does is make for some juicy tales. As I've grown accustomed to them, I only really care now about stories when Security or even Police are called to intervene.
So far, a foreigner has NOT been responsible for a Security or 5-0 event. That is not to say they don't let rip.* But it's the local talent that can keep 4 people 1 hour into overtime as they will not budge. The phone harassment line is also available 9:00-17:00 for the less mobile..(It's common for a call to last one hour! And they don't even have middle names!!)

Fully acknowledging the obvious racial profiling that happens here. Whilst we rightly clutch our pearls, it's more likely many of those immigrants are coming from places that have far more significant challenges to secure public services. I'm not excusing the behaviour. Just providing context why it may not lead to the sort of uprising we might fear/relish. (Choose your preference.).

Personally. I think the mynumber card should become a myDNA card for full biometrics. (Lincoln Six Echo style. Does Singapore have these yet..) Anway.. Until such time the only blood sample on mine would belong to the staffer than tried to remove it from my wallet. (I'm dead centre on a venn diagram of; barely suppressed anger issues, problems with authority and poor impulse control. And over sharing. But that one should have been obvious by now...)

* I've not yet profiled the various claimers as personally I abhor laziness stereotypes, (So want to dedicate appropriate time to a proper set of stereotypes!).
But I do know this. She thinks. "Pasty white guy claimers" are, and I'll quote.. "adorable.".. Do with that what you will..

[Deep Blue]

If you’re black or brown I suspect it’s already a common occurrence. One of my Indian colleagues is stopped by police for a “check” multiple times a year. I’ve never been stopped once in twelve so far.

True, or non-Japanese Asian, too, I guess. I have never been stopped randomly by police. Here for more than 20 years.

Yeah, fortunately my colleague is a nice guy, speaks decent Japanese and is able to dispense with the “existing while brown” checks quite quickly. I must say I wouldn’t handle it as well as he does.

[Bubblegun]

I have worked on the other side of this, and have caught quite a few people using the health service illegally. While i understand what people are saying, ithink it's an impossible task for counter staff, to do their job, without offending someone, sometime, and yet, at the the same time expecting them to stop people fraudulently using the health service, and protecting the service for all those who pay into the service. I personally caught several patients who were not entitled to use the service, because the family brought their whole family over from (I wont say which country), fraudulently pretended to have a permanent address, and used the families I.D , and adress to prove residency. Their excuse was, "but i thought we could all use it". The only reaon we caught them was because, the family wanted to change the mothers "outpatient appointment", and had a flight to catch. After we asked them to rebook after her holiday, the family said. "oh no. She doesn't actually live here, She lives in ( insert country). The total cost of treatment is about 20,000+++ (not yen). but it was the taking of another patients slot with the surgeon,nurses and specialist that got me. We also had someone walk off a plane and walk into A&E and they had renal failure. Legally they're were entitled to treatment as an emergency, but they weren't entitled to anything more unless they payed full price. I think Legally we could charge up to 150% of the actual cost. They don't use up a lot of money as a total % of the budget but it is enough to impact the hospital/patient at the local level, who DIDN't get their operation, treatment. So i am happy to provide photo I.D at the local hospital, and they've known me for years so they don't ask anymore as they keep it on file. So the photocopy makes sense to me. The hospital and drug store photo copy our health card, and so long as I see them withing the 3 months, they don't ask again and they are linked together. So it's pretty painless for now.