Health insurance association waives co-payments for Kumamoto Earthquake victims; care through February 28, 2027 coveredPeople badly hit by the earthquake do not have to pay at the hospital counter
On November 2, the Japan Health Insurance Association announced a waiver of patient co-payments at medical institutions in connection with the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. Insured persons and their dependents who, as of July 28, 2026, had their address in a municipality covered by the Disaster Relief Act, and who fall into one of the listed categories of hardship such as damage to their home, or the death, disappearance, business closure or loss of employment of the main breadwinner, do not have to pay at the counter if they state that they qualify. The waiver applies to medical care, dispensing of medicines and home-visit nursing from July 28, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
- ○Applies: The home was totally or partially destroyed or burned, flooded above floor level, or suffered comparable damage
- ○Applies: The main breadwinner died or suffered a serious illness or injury
- ○Applies: The main breadwinner is missing
- ○Applies: The main breadwinner closed or suspended their business
- ○Applies: The main breadwinner lost their job and currently has no income
Key points
- Covered are insured persons and dependents of the Japan Health Insurance Association under the Health Insurance Act or the Mariners' Insurance Act who, as of July 28, 2026, had their address in a municipality to which the Disaster Relief Act applied for the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
- In addition, the person must fall into one of the following: their home was totally or partially destroyed, totally or partially burned, flooded above floor level or suffered comparable damage; the main breadwinner died or suffered a serious illness or injury; the main breadwinner is missing; the main breadwinner closed or suspended their business; or the main breadwinner lost their job and currently has no income
- The waiver covers medical care, dispensing of medicines and home-visit nursing from July 28, 2026 through February 28, 2027
- By stating at the counter of the medical institution that they are eligible for the waiver, the patient does not have to pay the insurance co-payment
- The association may later verify the content of what was stated at the counter
What to do in practice
- Tell affected employees that stating at the medical counter that they are eligible for the waiver removes the need to pay the co-payment
- Check whether the address falls within a covered municipality using the list of municipalities under the Disaster Relief Act referred to by the issuing body
When you see a doctor, you normally pay part of the cost at the counter. People whose homes were destroyed in the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, or whose main earner died or lost their job, do not have to make that payment. This applies to people insured by the Japan Health Insurance Association, and it covers consultations, medicines and home-visit nursing received from July 28, 2026 through February 28, 2027. The announcement says it is enough to tell the hospital counter that you qualify for the waiver.
- 1. Check inShow proof of your insurance status at the hospital counter
- 2. Say soSay that you qualify for the Kumamoto Earthquake waiver
- 3. PaymentNo payment is required there and then
- 4. VerificationThe association may check the details later
Points
- People badly hit by the Kumamoto Earthquake do not have to pay at the hospital counter
- It covers consultations, medicines and home-visit nursing from July 28, 2026 through February 28, 2027
- You just tell the hospital counter that you qualify for the waiver
What the words mean
- Patient co-payment
- The money you pay yourself at the hospital counter
- Home-visit nursing
- A service in which a nurse or similar professional comes to your home to care for you
- Japan Health Insurance Association: Japan Health Insurance Association: Information on the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, waiver of patient co-payments at medical institutions
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.