Understanding what is covered by hoken kumiai and kousei nenkin

[jcc]

Is there a decent write-up (even a jp summary) that explains what is covered and the main deductibles(and limits) in these?

Trying to be useful I've tried to put what I have figured out in here. Please correct me on any misleading information and I'll amend it.

What are the differences with the hoken kumiai that we are in as compared to kokumin nenkin? I looked up the site for mine(kanto IT software) and it just says the cost is lower and then it lists off a bunch of benefits(that I think are the same as for normal kokumin hoken) but it's generally pretty confusing. When you do drop off the kenkou hoken kumiai(as one would do when you reach FI?) you are required to register with kokumin nenkin, what complications would that present if you are not working(assuming you have PR to avoid visa issues)?

What I have found on this is http://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/shakaihosho ... 2d-37.html My understanding is that you pay 30% but if you go over certain monthly limits(for example 57,600 if your annual income is under 3.7m yen) you are refunded whatever you go over. And if you pass that limit multiple times, from the 4th time(?) you're refunded after a lower rate(going with the previous income, 44,400 medical cost).

How about kousei nenkin? Now I'm aware it's an additional layer on top of kokumin nenkin and is sort of a "higher pension" of which half the payments are covered by the employer.

I also vaguely remember reading it includes some hospitalisation cover and life insurance, and hearing the recommendation that if you are on kousei nenkin that hospitalisation insurance and the like should probably be passed on. Or am I misunderstanding?

With these in mind, what insurance should a pr without dependents have? Clearly life insurance seems beside the point. Renters insurance might be useful if you have significant valuables at home, but seems like a waste if you're trying to go minimalist.

Hospitalization insurance? With the caps on deductibles from kenpo/kokumin, and unemployment insurance(which seems to be compulsory?), that are already payed for, are these necessary?

And finally disability insurance? This appears to be covered in kouseinenkin? Should a separate plan be acquired?

[RetireJapan]

Hi jcc

Welcome to the forum! Good question, and I am not an expert but will try to answer:

1. I think all the public health insurances are basically the same. The difference is how and how much you pay for them. The service they get you and how much you have to pay at the doctor/hospital are the same I think. Hospital costs are capped in some instances as you wrote.

2. Kokumin nenkin is cheaper but much worse than kosei nenkin and the old kyosai nenkins (which were rolled into kosei nenkin a couple of years ago but retain certain top-up payments). You can check your payments so far and projected payouts at the nenkin website or on the annual statement they send you.

3. Nenkin includes disability insurance.

4. Unemployment insurance should be paid by your employer.

5. If you want hospital stay payments etc. you need private insurance. Likewise life insurance.

As a single person with decent finances you may or may not need extra private insurance. National disability payments are not particularly generous, and foreign nationals may not be covered by welfare here (it's at the discretion of the local authority) so private disability insurance may lead to peace of mind.

Anyone else?

[jcc]

Thanks for clearing that up.

I guess disability and maybe hospitalization are the only things I really need to be looking into