Q:

When I turned 65, I received a document regarding the payment procedures for long-term care insurance premiums. I don't need long-term care, so I don't think I should have to pay them.

 

A:

Actually, long-term care insurance premiums are collected together with health insurance premiums, starting from age 40. This is because there is a higher chance that you or your parents will need long-term care due to illness, etc., when you reach about 40 years old. People aged 40 years old or older have already been paying long-term care insurance premiums along with their health insurance premiums. However, when you reach age 65, despite whether you are enrolled in health insurance through your company or enrolled in national health insurance yourself, you must pay long-term care insurance premiums to the municipality in which you live.

You will receive a long-term care insurance premium payment slip from the municipality in the month you turn 65. Anyone registered as a resident in Japan has an obligation to pay long-term care insurance premiums. Like health insurance premiums, the amount of long-term care insurance premiums is determined based on your income of the previous year.

From age 65, you will receive an old-age pension. If the pension you receive is more than 180,000 yen per year, long-term care insurance premiums are deducted from the pension you receive. Until the premiums are deducted from your pension, you will have to pay them yourself using a payment slip by bank transfer or other method.

Paying long-term care insurance premiums allows you to receive a wide range of care services. Primary insured persons aged 65 or older can receive long-term care services when they are certified as needing long-term care or support. Secondary insured persons aged 40 years old or older and under 65 years old can receive long-term care services when certified as needing long-term care or support due to the cause of the specific diseases that occur with age (Specified Diseases*).

 

*There are 16 types of Specified Diseases, including cancer and early-stage dementia. A diagnosis by a doctor is required to be recognized that you suffer from a Specified Disease.