Medical Insurance (Health Insurance) System after Retirement

[MacAddict]

Thank you for the replies. I will look into this now I am better informed.

[Tkydon]

I’d recommend sticking with the mutual aid association for the extra 2 years if you can afford the premiums. The coverage is usually better than NHI, and it gives you a smoother transition without surprises. I did the same after retiring, and it gave me peace of mind while I sorted everything out. Once those 2 years were up, switching to NHI was straightforward.

If you have a working Spouse and can be added to their Insurance that will definitely be the cheapest option.

If not, if you are really Impoverished, NHI Premiums can be reduced. You can ask at the City Hall.

If you do not qualify for a Premium Reduction, then the current plan would probably be better (premium/coverage) for the first year to 18 months after leaving employment.

Remember the NHI Premiums are calculated to be paid from May to the following Feb... (10 payments - Annual Premium/10)
Other Insurance Providers' premiums are payable every month (12 payments - Annual Premium/12), and are set for 2 years based on your final salary, but with better benefits. Remember to factor that into your comparison.

If you are over 65, Long-term Nursing Care Premium will be broken out and billed separately. If Under 65, it will be included in the Premium.

If you leave employment in say Oct/Nov/Dec of 2024, the NHI premiums will be based on the full year's 2023 Household income until Feb 2025. (the other plan is probably cheaper, with better benefits.)

Then, in 2025 the premiums will still be based on a (nearly) full year's Household income for 2024, from May 2025 until Feb 2026.
Only then in 2026 will NHI premiums be based on your reduced 2025 Household income, from May 2026 to Feb 2027.

Therefore, the comparison will depend somewhat on when in the year you actually left employment.

You can switch over any time, so it is probably worthwhile to compare future NHI Premiums when published every February for the new Premiums starting in May, and make the decision to continue with the current plan, or switch in May. You will definitely have to switch at the end of the two year period, so NHI would then be based on 2025 Household income, from (in this scenario) Oct/Nov/Dec 2026 to Feb 2027.

The NHI Premiums are calculated differently across the country. Only the Annual Caps are the set nationwide.
You can search "National Health Insurance Handbook <city or prefecture>" or "<都道府県 - 区市町村>国民健康保険ハンドブック"
Or, If you mention your city or prefecture, I can search for the new NHI Premiums starting in May 2025...