Be sure to read this information if you plan to leave the company
The information provided below is intended to answer questions about what happens if you lose your eligibility as an insured person with the AZSA Health Insurance Society after leaving employment as simply as possible:
- Where can I get health insurance coverage after leaving employment?
- What do I need to do after leaving employment?
- What aspects require particular care?
If you plan to leave the company, be sure to read this information, then complete the necessary procedures and other steps.
It should take about 15 minutes to read this information.
Where can I get health insurance coverage after leaving employment?
If you leave your employer, you will no longer be able to use your health insurance card, effective the day after the date on which you left employment. For this reason, you must complete the procedures immediately to switch from the health insurance you had as an employee.
You have several health insurance options after leaving employment. Carefully consider each option before choosing your health insurance, since each may differ with respect to monthly insurance premiums, details of benefits, and other aspects.
If you start work with a new employer immediately
If you will not start work with a new employer immediately
Differences between becoming a Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person under the AZSA Health Insurance Society and National Health Insurance
Are you unsure whether to become a Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person under the AZSA Health Insurance Society or to join National Health Insurance? The differences between the two systems are outlined below.
| Insurance | National Health Insurance (Municipalities) |
Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person under the AZSA Health Insurance Society |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance premiums |
|
Society insurance premium rates => Table of insurance premium rates |
- National Health Insurance
Amounts of insurance premiums for National Health Insurance vary with circumstances.
National Health Insurance tends to be the more affordable choice if your income during the previous year (January-December) was low as of April of the following year. Have the estimates made at the office of your municipality take this into consideration.
-Address any inquiries to-
The National Health Insurance division of your municipal government
Differences in insurance benefits and health activities
National Health Insurance pays only the statutory benefits specified by law.
Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons in the AZSA Health Insurance Society receive additional benefits in addition to statutory benefits. The health insurance benefits and health activities received are largely unchanged from those during employment.
However, Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons are not eligible to receive Injury and Sickness Allowance and Maternity Allowance unless they have been continuously insured for at least one year before leaving employment and were receiving or satisfied the conditions for receiving Injury and Sickness Allowance or Maternity Allowance at the time they left employment.
| Insurance | National Health Insurance (Municipalities) |
Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person under the AZSA Health Insurance Society |
|---|---|---|
| High-cost medical care benefits (Standard income earners) |
Cost-Sharing Maximum Amounts Approx. 80,100 yen |
Cost-Sharing Maximum Amounts 20,000 yen |
| Childbirth and Childcare Additional Sum | N/A | 50,000 yen/child |
| Dependents’ Additional Childbirth and Childcare Expenses | N/A | 30,000 yen/child |
| Funeral Expenses Additional Sum | N/A | Uniform amount of 50,000 yen |
| Dependents’ Additional Funeral Expenses | N/A | Uniform amount of 40,000 yen |
| Insurance | National Health Insurance (Municipalities) |
Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person under the AZSA Health Insurance Society |
|---|---|---|
| Health examinations, lodges, etc. | Varies by municipality | You can continue to use the Society’s Cafeteria Plan. |
Where can I get health insurance coverage after leaving employment?
Coverage period
Up to two years
- ** In principle, once you become a Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person, you cannot withdraw for two years unless you join a health insurance system at a new employer. Think carefully before completing these procedures.
Conditions for coverage
- You must have been an insured person continuously for at least two months through the date on which you left employment.
- You must complete the necessary procedures within 20 days after the date on which you left employment (date of loss of eligibility).
** Note that you will not be able to join this program once 20 days have passed after your loss of eligibility.
You must complete the procedures to become a Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person.
Deadline for submission: within 20 days after the date on which you left employment (date of loss of eligibility)
** It takes several days for the Health Insurance Society to review your application and confirm payment of insurance premiums. Try to submit your application as soon as possible.
- STEP1Fill out the required information on the Application Form for Certification as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person and submit to the Health Insurance Society.
If you have any dependents, submit the Notification of Health Insurance Dependent (Change)/Survey Form and the attached documents.
- See here for basic criteria on certification of dependents. - STEP2 After receiving the Application Form for Certification as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person, the Health Insurance Society will review the application form and send your Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person Invoice/Receipt (for Use for Bank Procedures).
- STEP3After the Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person Invoice/Receipt (for Use for Bank Procedures) arrives, pay your insurance premiums by the payment deadline. After insurance premium payment is confirmed, the Health Insurance Society will send out your insurance card
- STEP4Future information will be communicated by post, telephone, and email. Be sure to update personal information (address, telephone number, and email address) on the Cafeteria Plan Site.
** Cafeteria Points remaining from the time you were employed will remain valid. Use the same login ID and password you used when employed.
However, if you leave employment, your Cafeteria ID will be temporarily cancelled. You can register it once again after payment of your insurance premiums is confirmed for the month you become a Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person. Keep in mind that you will not be able to access the site for several days.
Paying insurance premiums for Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons
- You can choose one of three ways to pay for insurance premiums:
- Monthly payment (no discount)
Use this method to pay your insurance premiums month by month. - Prepaying for a half-year (prepayment discount applies)
Use this method to pay your insurance premiums for six months in advance. If you use this method for your first insurance premiums, you will pay for the month you joined through the coming September of March, whichever comes first.
(Under the insurance premium system, no discounts apply to the first month’s insurance premiums after you join the program.) - Prepaying for the full year (prepayment discount applies)
1Use this method to pay your insurance premiums for one year in advance. If you use this method for your first insurance premiums, you will pay for the month you joined through March of the following year.
(Under the insurance premium system, no discounts apply to the first month’s insurance premiums after you join the program.)
- ** Insurance premiums paid will not be refunded except in the following cases, of loss of eligibility:
1. You join another health insurance society with a new employer.
2. The insured person dies.
Remittance procedures for insurance premiums
- The Society will send the Insurance Premium Invoice/Receipt for the fiscal year to your home address. Please remit your insurance premiums to the Health Insurance Society’s designated bank account by the payment deadlines.
- You can also remit your payment from ATMs or over the Internet.
(Be sure to enter your Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person health insurance card code/number (99-___) before your name.)
Deadlines for paying insurance premiums
- Monthly payments
- First insurance premiums => Pay by the date specified by the Health Insurance Society (indicated on the Insurance Premium Invoice/Receipt).
- Second and later months => Pay by the 10th of each month (or the following business day for financial institutions if the 10th is a holiday).
- Note that insurance premiums may be returned if paid after the deadline.
- Prepayment
Pay by the date specified by the Health Insurance Society (indicated on the Insurance Premium Invoice/Receipt).
- ** If you do not pay your first insurance premiums, your coverage will be cancelled.
Loss of eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person
You will lose your eligibility in any of the following cases:
1. Automatic loss of eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person
- (A) When the two-year period expires: You will lose your eligibility automatically. You do not need to submit any notification. You will be sent a Certificate of Loss of Eligibility. Complete the procedures to join National Health Insurance with your municipal government.
- (B) When you qualify as an insured person under the Medical Care System for the Advanced Elderly (loss of eligibility on 75th birthday)
- (C) If you do not pay your insurance premiums by the date due
2. Loss of eligibility through submission of notices
- (A) Upon the death of the insured person (loss of eligibility on the day after the date of death)
Notice of Loss of Eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person
Attach: Society health insurance card - (B) If you become an insured person under another health insurance society or other insurance system due to the start of employment
Notice of Loss of Eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person (submit within five days after the date of loss of eligibility)
(Documents to attach)
- 1. Society health insurance card
- 2. Be sure to attach a copy of new health insurance card from your new employer (indicating the date on which you acquired eligibility).
- ** Any refunds of insurance premiums due to you will be remitted after you complete the procedures for loss of eligibility.
Loss of eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person
You will lose your eligibility in any of the following cases:
1. Automatic loss of eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person
- (A) When the two-year period expires: You will lose your eligibility automatically. You do not need to submit any notification. You will be sent a Certificate of Loss of Eligibility. Complete the procedures to join National Health Insurance with your municipal government.
- (B) When you qualify as an insured person under the Medical Care System for the Advanced Elderly (loss of eligibility on 75th birthday)
- (C) If you do not pay your insurance premiums by the date due
2. Loss of eligibility through submission of notices
- (A) Upon the death of the insured person (loss of eligibility on the day after the date of death)
Notice of Loss of Eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person
Attach: Society health insurance card - (B) If you become an insured person under another health insurance society or other insurance system due to the start of employment
Notice of Loss of Eligibility as Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Person (submit within five days after the date of loss of eligibility)
(Documents to attach)
- 1. Society health insurance card
- 2. Be sure to attach a copy of new health insurance card from your new employer (indicating the date on which you acquired eligibility).
- ** Any refunds of insurance premiums due to you will be remitted after you complete the procedures for loss of eligibility.
Return your health insurance card.
If you lose your eligibility as an insured person under the AZSA Health Insurance Society, your health insurance card will be invalid from the day after the date on which you left employment (for Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons are not eligible). Be sure to return your health insurance card as instructed by HR section of each company (AZSA Health Insurance Society for Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons).
- ** If any family members were authorized as dependents, also return their health insurance cards.
- ** You cannot use your Society health insurance card to receive medical consultation and treatment after loss of eligibility.
If you use your card for examinations or treatment after loss of eligibility, you will be billed for any costs paid by the Society.
| Required documents | Health insurance card |
|---|---|
| Elderly benefits card (if applicable) | |
| Certificate of Application of Maximum Copayment Amount (if applicable) | |
| Certificates Issued for Specific Disease Treatment (if applicable) | |
| Various Cafeteria Tickets (if applicable) | |
| Deadline for submission | Within five days after loss of eligibility |
| Submit to | HR section of each company (AZSA Health Insurance Society for Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons) |
ˆElderly benefits card
ˆCertificate of Application of Maximum Copayment Amount
ˆCertificates Issued for Specific Disease Treatment
Handling of Cafeteria Points
Does not apply to Voluntarily and Continuously Insured Persons.
If you lose your eligibility as an insured person under AZSA Health Insurance Society after leaving employment
Points awarded by the Health Insurance Society will be cancelled.
However, points you purchased yourself will be refunded.
Do you have any points you purchased yourself?
You cannot use your unused Cafeteria Tickets. Be sure to return them.
Various Cafeteria Tickets (examples shown above)
In certain cases, the Society may need to contact you concerning procedures, reimbursements, or other matters after you leave employment.
Before you leave your employer, be sure to update your personal information (address, telephone number, email) on the Cafeteria Plan website to provide the information that will apply after you leave.
AZSA Health Insurance Society Cafeteria Plan website: https://www.apap.jp/azsa (personal authentication)）
Final check
Make a final check of the following matters that may require action on your part:
Flow of refunds of Cafeteria Points you purchased yourself
- Access the following URL:
https://www.apap.jp/azsa / - Click on Purchase Cafeteria Points in the menu on the left side of the screen, then Refund of Purchased Points upon Withdrawal. Download the AZSA Health Insurance Society Purchased Cafeteria Points Refund Request Form.
- Complete the sections outlined in bold on the AZSA Health Insurance Society Purchased Cafeteria Points Refund Request Form you downloaded, then send to the AZSA Health Insurance Society by email or post.
Email: info-azsa@apap.jp
Post: AZSA Health Insurance Society, Yoyogi East Building, 3F, 5-23-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan - An administrative fee of 420 yen (including remittance fees and taxes) applies to refunds. The amount remaining after subtracting the administrative fee from your balance of purchased points will be remitted to your designated bank account (roughly 10 days after you leave employment).
The balance of purchased points will not be refunded if it is less than the amount of the administrative fee.
Refunds will be remitted from Value HR Co., Ltd., which runs Value Cafeteria.