Response to the transition to the national ID card with health insurance function (Myna health insurance card)

 

◆Started sending "Notification of Qualification Information" from September 9, 2024.

After December 2, health insurance cards will be shifted to Myna health insurance cards. Japan Health Insurance Association has been sending "Notification of Eligibility Information" to existing enrollees since September 9, 2024.

This "Notice of Eligibility Information" has been used since December 2024 to confirm the health insurance symbols and numbers required for applications for various health insurance benefits, etc. Part of the card is a paper card with a layout that can be cut out and used so that the insured person can easily carry it.

It will be sent to the company by registered mail and must be distributed to each insured person. For new enrollees on or after December 2, it will be sent at the time of qualification.

◆Treatment of conventionally insured cards

The current insurance card will not become invalid immediately after the transition to Myna health insurance card. Therefore, employees who retire by December 1, 2025 are required to return their insurance cards as before. After December 2, 2025, it will be possible for the insured to self-discard the insurance card, so there is no need to ask them to return the card.

◆Issuance of "Eligibility Confirmation Letter" to subscribers who do not have a Myna health insurance card.

For new enrollees, the card will be issued to enrollees who do not have a Myna health insurance card via the company after December 2, based on the application by the enrollee through a notification of eligibility.

For existing members, the certificate will be issued to those who are deemed necessary by Japan Health Insurance Association until December 2, 2025.

As for the handling of the certificate of eligibility, if the employee resigns before the expiration date, he/she should return the certificate to the company and collect it at the time of resignation procedures.

How many workers return to work after a ruling of invalidity of dismissal, etc.?

 

A survey conducted by the Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training (JILPT) of lawyers specializing in labor issues, including the Japan Labor Defense Lawyers Association and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations for Management, as well as other lawyers with expertise in labor issues, revealed the following.

◆Ratio of reinstated employees after invalidation of dismissal, etc.

The percentage of reinstatement in cases where dismissal, etc. is declared invalid in a judgment in a dismissal/end of employment contract lawsuit is as follows:

Returned to work 37.4% (of which 30.3% continued working after returning to work and 7.1% resigned involuntarily after returning to work)

Did not return to work 54.5%

Unknown 8.1%

As for reasons for not returning to work, the largest percentage (38.9%) cited concerns about human relations after returning to work. The most common reason given by workers who resigned involuntarily after returning to work was "harassment by employer" (16.2%).

◆Rejection of settlement offers in many cases

On the other hand, 86.5% of the cases that ended in judgment rejected the settlement offer presented by the court in the process leading up to the judgment, as follows:

Workers rejected 45.0%

Rejection by the employer 21.3%

Rejection by both labor and management 33.8%

Reasons for rejection on the part of workers were "agreed severance settlement, but the worker wanted to return to work" (34.7%), "agreed severance settlement, but the settlement amount was low" (30.6%), and "agreed severance settlement, but the worker was convinced that the dismissal was invalid" (22.3%).

The reasons for rejection on the employer side were: "The settlement was an agreed severance settlement, but the employer did not want to pay money" (19.4%), "The settlement was an offer of status confirmation, but the employer did not want to reinstate the employee" (15.3%), and "The settlement was an agreed severance settlement, but the amount was too high" (13.9%).

Currently, the Labor Policy Council of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has been discussing a monetary relief system for invalid dismissals for some time, but it seems to have stalled a bit. It seems that the future of the issue is still up in the air.