How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Japan?

The average cost for an individual international health insurance plan in Japan was USD $5,228 (around JPY 816,744) in 2025. Health insurance costs for expats in Japan will vary depending on whether they have a private or public health insurance plan. 

Are you an expat moving to Japan?  Are you unsure of what the average premium is for health insurance in the country? The insurance experts at Pacific Prime have created this guide to help you understand what you can expect to pay for health insurance in Japan. 

We will share the average health insurance costs in Japan, explain the factors that affect insurance premiums, and more. Keep reading to learn more, or click here for a free health insurance quote!

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Health Insurance Costs in Japan for Expats

The average health insurance costs in Japan vary greatly depending on whether you have public or private health insurance and other factors. Public health insurance in Japan is generally more affordable than private health insurance plans due to government subsidies.

Foreigners staying in Japan longer than 90 days can enroll in public health insurance in Japan. They may also choose private health insurance plans to further supplement their coverage. Expats staying less than 90 days will not be eligible for public health insurance. 

Public Health Insurance Costs in Japan

Public health insurance costs for expats in Japan vary depending on whether you are a part of the National Health Insurance or an employer-based plan. 

• National Health Insurance (NHI) Costs: Members will pay a monthly premium and a 30% copayment on the medical services they receive. Once members have reached their monthly maximum limit for out-of-pocket costs, they will be reimbursed or not charged for further services for the rest of the month.
• Employer-Based Health Insurance Costs: Members will split their monthly payments with their employers, with coverage typically costing around 5% of each paycheck. Members have a 30% copayment on the medical services they receive, and there is also a monthly maximum limit for out-of-pocket costs. 

Copayments are the same across the different health insurance plans, with cost-sharing varying according to age. Young children and the elderly pay less in copayments.

Private Health Insurance Costs in Japan

The average annual international health insurance premium for an individual policy was USD $5,228 (around JPY 816,640) in 2025. The average yearly cost for a family policy was USD $14,670 (around JPY2,291,52) in the same year. 

Private health insurance costs in Japan will vary depending on your plan and your provider. Private health insurance plans from local providers may be less expensive than international health insurance providers, but they offer less geographical coverage. 

Private health insurance rates rise annually, with Pacific Prime’s data showing us around a 3% increase in individual international health insurance premiums for Japan from 2023 to 2025. 

Comparing Japan Health Insurance Costs to Other Asian Countries

Japan’s average international health insurance costs are less expensive than other Asian countries like Hong Kong but more expensive than Malaysia. The table below illustrates the cost of private health insurance in Japan compared to other Asian countries. 

Families can expect to pay different costs for their health insurance premiums depending on where they are in Asia as well. We have compared average costs of family health insurance premiums in the table below.

These average costs are proprietary data collected by Pacific Prime through their experience with helping expats find health insurance solutions that work for them.

Factors That Affect Health Insurance Costs in Japan

Factors that affect health insurance costs in Japan can include age and health history, coverage level of your plan, your deductible, and more. Public health insurance and private health insurance will have different factors that affect their costs for expats. 

• Your Age: Your age will affect your insurance premium due to insurance providers charging more for older individuals. This is due to the higher financial risk associated with insuring older individuals. 
• The Number of Your Dependents: The number of dependents in your household (if you have them) will directly affect your insurance premium by increasing it per dependent. 
• The Coverage Level of Your Plan: Plans with high levels of coverage and high annual maximum limits will always cost more than basic plans that only offer emergency coverage. This includes plans with specialized coverage like outpatient,11 vision, and dental. 
• Your Deductible: Whether you choose a low, medium, or high deductible will directly affect your premium. Your deductible is the amount the policyholder pays before the insurance company begins to pay. High deductible plans cost less than low deductible plans.
• Your Health History: Your health history, including any pre-existing conditions, will affect your health insurance premiums. Some insurance providers won’t cover your pre-existing condition, or if they do, they will at a higher premium. 
• Your Income: For public health insurance, your monthly contributions will depend on your income. Employed expats will have their monthly contributions taken out of their paychecks, while self-employed expats will have to pay based on their income. 

To learn more about the factors that affect the cost of health insurance, download our guide, The Cost of International Health Insurance Report 2024.

How to Reduce Private Health Insurance Costs in Japan

Expats in Japan interested in securing a private health insurance plan can help keep their annual or monthly premiums affordable by comparing plans from different providers, customizing their coverage, and choosing a high-deductible plan. 

1. Compare a Variety of Plans from Different Providers

Compare a variety of plans from different private health insurance providers before you choose a plan. You may find a plan that has higher coverage for a better price than one from a different health insurance provider. You can use free quote tools to help compare plans more efficiently. 

When comparing separate plans, make sure you analyze the geographical coverage, annual limits, benefits covered, and exclusions. Take your time with this step so you don’t miss any key points. Comparing plans can help you find the most affordable solution for your health insurance needs. 

2. Customize Your Health Insurance Coverage

Don’t pay for coverage you don’t need, and customize your coverage in your health insurance plan. Are you unsure if you’ll need vision coverage? Don’t choose a plan with vision riders. If you don’t think you’ll need outpatient coverage, choose inpatient-coverage-only plans. 

3. Choose a High-Deductible Health Insurance Plan

Choosing a high-deductible plan can lower your annual or monthly premium. With a high-deductible plan, the insurance company will pay less upfront and shift more of the financial risk to the policyholder. This can help keep your health insurance premiums more affordable. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Can expats get public health insurance in Japan? 

Expats can get public health insurance in Japan by enrolling with the NHI or by having an employer-based health insurance plan. Self-employed or unemployed expats can enroll with the NHI after 90 days in Japan. Working expats will be enrolled automatically in an employer-based plan. 

Are expats required to have health insurance in Japan?

Expats must have health insurance in Japan if they are staying in the country for over 90 days or if they are on a Digital Nomad Visa. Expats staying over 90 days will be required to enroll in the NHI. Expats on a Digital Nomad Visa are required to have their own private health insurance. 

Is healthcare less expensive in Japan than in the US?

Japan has less expensive healthcare than the US. Japan aims to keep its healthcare high-quality and low-cost for citizens and foreigners. Seeing a doctor in Japan with insurance can cost around JPY 5,000–10,000 ($45–90 USD).

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Conclusion: 

Expats in Japan can expect to pay around USD $5,228 (~JPY 816,640) for an international individual health insurance plan. Private local health insurance plans may be cheaper, with public health insurance offering the most affordable option. 

Are you ready to begin shopping for your private health insurance plan for Japan? Contact the insurance experts at Pacific Prime. We partner with a diverse range of top international health insurance providers in Japan and across the globe. 

We are brokers with over 20 years of experience in providing insurance solutions to expats and digital nomads worldwide. We can help you understand insurance quotes and plans and offer our unbiased advice. If you’d like to compare plans on your own, feel free to use our free quote generator. 

If you’d like to read more helpful guides on health insurance costs for expats, check out our articles below: 

• How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Germany?
• How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Singapore?

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Serena Fung

Head of Content at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.

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