Japan's My Number Card medical integration faces usage challenges

Japan is transitioning its medical insurance system toward the use of the My Number Card as a health insurance card. For recipients of public assistance, online qualification confirmation for medical aid has been available since March 2024, potentially reducing the need to visit welfare offices to collect paper medical vouchers.

However, challenges remain regarding the adoption and utility of the system. While registration rates for the My Number Card are high, actual usage rates for medical purposes lag behind. Reasons for lower usage include concerns over personal information leaks and a lack of perceived benefits. To ensure access to care, the government issues qualification certificates to those without the card, though eligibility for these certificates has recently been tightened for certain age groups.

Key benefits of the system include allowing medical institutions to access past clinical data and streamlining high-cost medical expense procedures. In emergency situations, the card can provide vital medication and medical history information, though data from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency indicates that information was only accessible in 17.4% of emergency transport cases, often because patients were not carrying the card.