Family membership

Health insurance provides insurance benefits not just to insured persons but also to their dependent family members. These family members are referred to as dependents. Family members must meet certain conditions related to “residency in Japan,” “the extent of the family relationship,” and “income” before they are authorized as dependents.

Description
Procedures
FAQ

Adding a family member

You can check the following “Dependent Certification Chart” before applying.

Dependent Certification Chart

  • * This is prepared based on general cases. Please use this as a guide when applying.
Required documents: Notification of Health Insurance Dependent (Change)
Example
Notification of Present Situation (Insured Person / Dependent)
Example
Written petition of application for dependent
Certificate of salary/wage/etc. payment
Joint Married Couple Support Income Amount Confirmation Table
  • * If you (the insured person) take one month of childcare leave or more, please obtain proof of your spouse’s place of employment.
List of documents that need to be attached for dependent certification
Submit to:
  • Those who are enrolled
    ⇒ Submit to your company (in charge of social insurance).
  • Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons
    ⇒ Submit to FR Health Insurance Organization.
Deadline: Within five days after the reason for adding the family member arises
Applies to: Insured persons for whom the number of dependent family members increases due to marriage, childbirth, etc.
Inquiries to:
  • Company (in charge of social insurance)
  • FR Health Insurance Organization
Notes: See the Description page for information on standards for certifying dependents.

Documents to attach for dependents who qualify for exceptions to the domestic residency requirement even though they do not have addresses in Japan

Reasons for exception Certifying documentation
(1) Student studying abroad Copy of visa, student ID, certificate of school attendance, certificate of school admission
(2) Family member accompanying an insured person posted abroad Copy of visa, written appointment overseas, certificate of residence issued by a foreign public agency, etc.
(3) Person traveling abroad temporarily for sightseeing, recreation, volunteer activities, or other reasons unrelated to employment Copy of visa, certificate of agency dispatched for volunteer activities, certificate of consent to participate in volunteer activities
(4) Person recognized as equivalent to (2) above due to family relationship to an insured person arising while the insured person is posted abroad Copy of documentation certifying birth, marriage, etc.
(5) In addition to (1)-(4) above, person recognized to have a livelihood based in Japan in consideration of purposes of traveling abroad and other circumstances Subject to determination on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Health Insurance Society.

Note: If documents were prepared in a foreign language, please attach a Japanese translation signed by the translator.

Removing a family member

Required documents: Notification of Health Insurance Dependent (Change)
Example

[Documents to attach]

  • Health insurance card (for the dependent to be removed, until December 1, 2025)
  • Elderly benefits card, Eligibility Verification Certificate, etc. (if issued)
  • Certificate of application of maximum copayment Amount (if issued)
Submit to:
  • Those who are enrolled
    ⇒ Submit to your company (in charge of social insurance).
  • Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons
    ⇒ Submit to FR Health Insurance Organization.
Deadline: Within five days after the reason for adding the family member arises
Applies to:

[Insured persons with dependents who meet the following descriptions]

  • No longer eligible as dependents due to reasons such as employment, living apart from the insured person, or death
  • No longer satisfy the conditions for certification as dependents due to increased income
  • No longer rely on the income of the insured person for their livelihood because the insured person no longer provides an allowance
Inquiries to:
  • Company (in charge of social insurance)
  • FR Health Insurance Organization