Public opposition grows over My Number and health insurance merger

Jun 21, 2023 | News On Japan

TOKYO - As errors and privacy breaches involving the linkage of My Number and health insurance cards continue to surface, public opposition is growing over the government’s decision to halt the use of current health insurance cards in the fall of 2024.

Parliament enacted a law on June 2 to scrap health insurance cards, with these to be exchanged for a version of the My Number card that also integrates a person’s health insurance information. The integration has been an option since October 2021, but the government’s plan means that all residents will be required to obtain one by fall 2024.

The government is rushing to meet the deadline that it has set for itself, but the transition has so far been far from smooth.

The health ministry has reported that, between October 2021 and November 2022, there were 7,312 cases where someone else’s personal information was tied to another individual’s My Number card.

According to the Japanese Medical and Dental Practitioners for the Improvement of Medical Care, there have been at least 776 cases across 38 prefectures where patients were asked to pay 100% of the fees at the hospital despite having insurance coverage, because their data did not show up on the new scanning system for combined My Number and health insurance cards. ...continue reading

Typhoon No. 7 Travel Disruptions Extend to June 27

Transport disruption from Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) widened further on June 26, with airlines extending weather-related ticket handling to Tokyo airports for June 27 and JR East announcing planned suspensions and reduced service on several conventional lines as the storm moves along Japan’s Pacific side.

Double Typhoons Put Japan On High Alert

As of 4 p.m. on June 26, Typhoon No. 7 was near Amami Oshima and moving northeast while Typhoon No. 8 was over waters south of Japan, with the two storms forecast to approach Tokai and Kanto in succession on June 27 and bring two waves of heavy rain, raising the risk of flooding, landslides and river overflows from western Japan to the Tokyo region.

Japan Books Spot in World Cup Knockout Stage After Sweden Draw

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

Aomori Hit by Quake Measuring Upper 6 as Hachinohe Shakes Again

A powerful earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 struck off Iwate Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. on June 25, shaking parts of Aomori Prefecture and leaving Hachinohe, which was hit by a similarly strong quake last December, facing fresh damage.

Strong Quake Hits Aomori Prefecture

A powerful earthquake registering a maximum intensity of 6 upper on Japan’s seismic scale struck Aomori Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. today. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter was off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, with a depth of about 50 kilometers. The earthquake’s magnitude was estimated at 6.9.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan Politics Daily: Diet Moves On Defense And Election Rules

Japan’s political agenda on June 26 was dominated by national security, election regulation and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to reshape the country’s long-term economic strategy, as the Diet advanced measures that point to a broader shift in how the government is preparing for defense, technology and political campaigning.

Takaichi Government Targets 370 Trillion Yen Investment Push

The Takaichi government said on June 24 that public and private investment in 17 strategic fields, including AI and semiconductors, is expected to exceed 370 trillion yen by 2040, as it seeks to draw out private-sector spending and turn advanced technologies into economic growth.

Food Consumption Tax Cut to 1% From Next April to Be Proposed

A cross-party national council discussing a reduction in the consumption tax on food will present a draft proposal on June 24 calling for the rate to be lowered to 1% from April next year.

Imperial Reform Plan Advances as Emperor and Empress Deepen Ties in Belgium

The speakers and vice speakers of both houses of the Japanese Diet approved on June 22 the government’s outline for revising the Imperial Household Law and related measures aimed at securing the number of imperial family members, following what has been described as the consensus of the legislature.

Three Opposition Parties in Japan Move Toward Possible Merger

Centrist Reform Alliance leader Ogawa has secured agreement from the leaders of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito to establish a consultative body to discuss a possible merger of the three parties.

Referendum Revision Bill Passes Lower House

A bill to revise the national referendum law, which sets procedures for constitutional amendments, was approved by the House of Representatives plenary session and is expected to enter deliberation at the House of Councillors Commission on the Constitution on June 24.

All of Prime Minister Takaichi's Proposals Included in G7 Statement

A draft of the joint statement from the G7 summit in France has revealed that all proposals put forward by Prime Minister Takaichi on energy security and critical minerals have been incorporated into the agreement.

WATCH Major G7 Working Lunch With Trump, Meloni, Takaichi And Gulf Leaders

Powerful gathering at the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains as President Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni, Sanae Takaichi, Mark Carney, Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attend a high-level working lunch.

< 2 3 4 5 >