Photo/Illutration Taro Kono, the minister for digital transformation, speaks at a July 5 session of a Lower House special committee. (Koichi Ueda)

Government officials acknowledged only one change in policy linked to the troubled Individual Number Card system, popularly known as the My Number Card, in connection to certificates for the health insurance program. 

Though the Diet is no longer in session, a Lower House special committee met on July 5 to take questions about the problems that have emerged, particularly linking the My Number Card to health insurance programs.

Shinichi Isa, a senior vice minister in the health ministry, said senior citizens living in care facilities would be given certificates verifying they belong to a health insurance program even if the individual does not apply for such a form, as is currently required. 

Such certificates will be needed after the government retires the current health insurance cards by combining the data from those cards with the My Number Card.

Health minister Katsunobu Kato said the government had no intention of changing the scheduled end of the health insurance cards in autumn 2024. Legislation passed the Diet in early June to do away with the health insurance cards at that time. 

Many senior citizens will likely be unable to apply for the My Number Card, leaving open the possibility they might be frozen out of health care covered by their insurance programs.

Those without a My Number Card can apply for a certificate from their health insurance provider stating that they are a member.

The latest announcement means those who refuse or cannot apply for the certificate can receive it on the discretion of the health insurance provider.

Isa said the move would ensure that everyone covered by health insurance will receive the proper care.

Reports about problems with the My Number Card have led some to voluntarily return their card.

But at the July 5 committee session, officials said they had no idea how many people were returning the cards.

Kato also said he didn’t know how many people would need to receive the certificates about their health insurance coverage.

The government has also pledged to investigate problems that have arisen with the linking of various government programs to the My Number Card.

Taro Kono, digital transformation minister, said a study would first be conducted into what problems have emerged related to the linking before deciding what specific categories of data would be checked.

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