Japan enacts law to merge health insurance cards with My Number IDs

Well now, isn't that a surprise?

LDP introduces deeply unpopular ID card scheme, ballses it up royally - a pound to a penny the Chinese have every last scrap of data on the system, then enacts mission creep to make sure nobody dares think of not bowing down and taking up the Khyber.

Just wait for the Kempeitai to get revived .

"You! Show me your papers!"

We edge closer and closer to the dystopia.

There are decent arguments regarding effeciency in consolidation of these, however it never outweighs the potential misuse and further encroachment of the state into the minutiae of our daily lives.

I do not trust that we will always have benevolent rulers.

All good, convenient and efficient.... unless you have something to hide or want to abuse the system in some way.

Next will be compulsory linkage to banking, taxes, ETC cards, residence cards, travel tickets, cinema and theatre ticketing, and the rest of your online information, all linked to My Number.

They will know everything about you and what you do.

All good, convenient and efficient.... unless you have something to hide or want to abuse the system in some way.

Yep, just stay in the box and everything will be fine.

Teutonic bureaucracy wins again.

Wanderlust is spot on. Add Suica/Pasmo to the list and don't forget you'll have to divulge Your Number when registering a SIM card. The good news is that crime will continue to go down as criminals will continue to carry their phones while breaking the law. Unfortunately this also explains the push for ETC 2.0 (which transmits location several times a second) and why the Highway Patrol have started removing speed cameras recently; they're soon to be surplus to requirements.

I'll stop complaining and just leave Japan.

Injustice LDP government deprive health insurance cards that had no problem during decades from general citizen, intend to force defective "my number" system to people.

This article has no enough explanation, but "My number insurance cards" system has structural defects, it already begun to threat health and lives of people.

"Individuals without a My Number card will pay more for treatment"

Even if patients have "my number insurance cards", it has defect that force patients pay 3 times or 10 times for treatment by system errors.

Besides, government had concealed many defects or errors, continued promotion with wasting trillions yen taxes.

Moreover, government considering nothing about socially vulnerables who have difficulties to procedure on their own, ignored strong opposition from medical institutions or elderly facilities.

Arrogant LDP government prioritizes benefiting corporations who relating "my number system" and who donate contribution to LDP, victimize safe of people, disrespecting essential workers.

I knew they were going to forcibly make people get these My Number cards, when they was first introduced.

I hate this government.

If you oppose bureaucracy, you will never survive in Japan.

I was told at my townhall that the anshō bangō must be given to them (written on the application form)..... so much for security.

re: "The law enables the state to retain personal bank account information under the My Number system unless a cardholder denies the government access." can we trust 'the government' to honour the denial?

I don't object to having the card, for convenience, but..... can't trust the security or efficiency of any government departments at any level.

and i doubt that everyday stuff will become more efficient..... after all, all government departments will keep all their staff, and what will they spend their time if not making busy-work?

Right, and when the card doesnt work, like mine, due to the IC chip not functioning correctly, I have to pay to have it replaced, when it's THEIR problem!

My Number is already in use at hospitals. Was there yesterday but I still use the health insurance card issued every year.

My Residents Card is valid until 29. My Number card is until 27. So renew MY Number but 2 years later renew my Residents Card and also then MY Number card again. At least make the dates the same for My Number and Residents Card.

 (Other than being able to print my Jūminhyō at the Seven-Eleven, whoopee!)

Yeah but only between 9am-5pm week days. Public holiday, outside those hours or weekends, fergeddaboutit. Found that one out the hard way.

Also, did the tax return online using My Number of course. It was unbelievable how many times had to scan it in via my phone NFC function. Didn't want to install loads (and I mean LOADS!) of software onto my computer (Windoze only by the way). Also even if doing the My Number way one is out of luck if using a browser other than Chrome or Edge IN WINDOWS. Got around that by changing the user-agent in Linux though and worked fine using Firefox.

Anyway finally got it in, and paid it, then got something in the mail about it being adjusted since due to an error in the system (their fault) and asking me to put my hanko on it, and to return with a photocopy of both sides of my My Number Card. Still wrong. Had to CALL them and explain since the readjustment was still not the correct amount.

It's broken.

There are few things in Japan that can be described as “ efficient.” My Number is just another level of bureaucracy to inflate employment numbers as well as increase government control over your personal information…..information that will be made available to friends of said government. I will believe the streamline argument when I hear that government departments that were supposed be replaced by My Number are phased out and citizens given a tax break. I won’t hold my breath.

They will know everything about you and what you do.

There's a good chance they already do, this just makes it easier for them to use you as a data harvesting machine.

One thing is it will force everyone (including the clever avoiders) to enroll in the national healthcare system and that's a good thing for all if you wish to live in Japan.

....our city hall's "service center" in a shopping mall nearby remains to be the better option for trivial paperwork, that one is at least open on Saturdays

Yeah but you need to go that particular shopping centre. I thought the whole point was to make it more convenient so people could just print off whenever they choose. The hours should be irrelevant. Why limit it to hours when the city office is open?

By the way, I know so many people who forgot their passwords (you need FOUR when making the card, all have different functions). It is quite insane. Know what happens if get password wrong several times in a row? Yep, off to the office for you to get a new one. Agghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh just have to complicate things as much as they can.

Anyone who thinks the government doesn.t know everything they need to know about him or her is living in Fantasy Land.

News report from 2 days ago. "60% of Japan medical institutions report issues with 'My Number' insurance cards". What could possibly go wrong?

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230530/p2a/00m/0na/015000c

We have Social Security Number as soon as person are born in the US,only thing has to be provided is a birth certificate,lots of Japanese born to an American parents, could easy get one

If you are American then everyone knows you have a SSN. That's as much of a personal question as asking someone if they have a heartbeat. The main thing is Japan is getting tighter with everyone paying for insurance especially with the rapid aging population. They will force everyone to make sure they pay their insurance premium and avoid the sneaky people who don't. That is the good part of it (for those who do pay and it makes it fair). The MyNumber makes this more efficient.

The data collected could be open to abuse.

Also how the data is stored, the method of security is questionable.

I question the competence of government to keep our personal date safe.

Cockroaches. That's all this government is to me.

The law enables the state to retain personal bank account information under the My Number system unless a cardholder denies the government access.

Oh really? Tell me how. I want to make sure I deny these cockroaches access to every bit of my financial information wherever possible.

One of the purposes of this is to prevent damage to the Japanese medical industry due to unauthorized use of health insurance cards by foreigners, including Chinese.

Until now, there have been many cases in which Chinese people borrowed and lent insurance cards to each other, and even after undergoing expensive surgery, they returned home without paying for the treatment.

If you tie it with my number, it will decrease a little.

If possible, I would like you to put your driver's license on the card as well.

So the plan is to link absolutely everything to this serial number. With the possession of that card, an individual or organization could have access to the person's medical history, medications, driving records and bank accounts.

And with Japan track of how amazing cyber security is, with no info on floppy disks, nor a single incident of officials carrying all that info with them while sleeping on trains, what could possibly EVER go wrong?

Until now, there have been many cases in which Chinese people borrowed and lent insurance cards to each other, and even after undergoing expensive surgery, they returned home without paying for the treatment.

In that case I'm really for this now.

Up next, social credit.

Convenience is the hook,

threats are the line,

what will be the sinker?

"Once the health insurance cards are integrated, people will be required to present their My Number cards at hospitals to have their medical expenses covered by national insurance."

This card is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen Japan do, and I have seen a LOT. I remember the guy at my City Hall MARVELLING over the "high technology" in the card, pointing out that "it actually has an IC chip in it!" He went on to say that I should never show or give my MyNumber to anyone, and when I pointed out that it is literally written right there on the card he said, "Yes, but we give you this handy plastic sleeve which has a strip of tape inside that covers the number!"

I just cannot stop shaking my head. A number of my friends have elderly parents in nursing homes. Said parents must, by the rules of the homes, hand over Health Insurance cards and information to the nurses and other staff so that they can use it in case of emergencies. So, now the staff will also have full access to the bank accounts and other things connected to the cards. Can't see any room for misuse at all there! Not to mention how idiots at certain City Halls forgot to log out of individuals' accounts when inputting the next person's information and therefore assigning said next person the previous person's number, etc.

This is a terrible idea. Having 1 number that will end up being used for everything (eventually) means that thieves will have an easier time stealing identities.

Idiots.

The law needs to make it illegal for any other use than for the specific organizations who have a need to know this number to have access to it. When health care is tied to a number, that means the entire world has access.

Having a unique identifier for 1 person is dangerous. It really is.

Today in Yahoo News:

A man who received a different person's photo on his My Number card stated, 'I was told that they casually attached whatever was available.' The city officials said, 'We did not say it was casually attached, but it cannot be helped if it is perceived that way.' Mistake regarding the My Number card at the Matsusaka City Hall in Mie Prefecture.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8023ae83bec3f1131361daea6ed9ff06bea5b2e3

All my private information will be given each time I visit the hospital and or a doctor????? For real, anyone who is computer savvy can connect to a government office and find out whatever they fancy on me and could use that information to obtain fraudulently credit cards and or do any other illegal activity in my name. It would be at my cost to hire an attorney to clear my name and that from reading newspapers is not an easy task because you are guilty until proven innocent.

The level of IT incompetence in Japan is on another level.

Do I really want my bank information tied to my personal information to be open to fraud?

Luckily, I don’t keep much money in Japan and it will remain that way!

My Number is already in use at hospitals. Was there yesterday but I still use the health insurance card issued every year.

Since you renew it yearly that means that your insurance is more than likely the "kokumin kenko" insurance, or national, government insurance, and yours will be the first one's to stop issuing the separate cards and go "My Id" only.

Not all clinics have the card reader yet, and until the entire medical system is joined together it will be a problem for many people.

(Social welfare, or shakai hoken, insurance cards, are rarely "renewed" as long as you continue working for the same company. I havent had a "new" card issued in over a decade.)

kokumin kenko. Yes, we are retired.

kurisupisu

The level of IT incompetence in Japan is on another level.

> Do I really want my bank information tied to my personal information to be open to fraud?

> Luckily, I don’t keep much money in Japan and it will remain that way!

My Number does not contain any personal bank details.

What's on the IC chip?

https://practicaljapan.com/my-number-card-what-is-it-and-why-you-need-it/

"They" already have ALL the information on the my number card and more. So if "They" wanted to track you or know what you are doing, they could. Yet all the conspiracy theorists have Google, Facebook, Apple pay, pasmo cards etc ..

My Number does not contain any personal bank details.

Uhm, you really should check it out. Did you make the card? Did you get the ￥25,000 hand out for making the card? If you got the card AND registered for the cash handouts, your bank information has been shared!

......hand over Health Insurance cards and information to the nurses and other staff so that they can use it in case of emergencies. So, now the staff will also have full access to the bank accounts and other things connected to the cards.

How exactly will "the staff" be able to do that?

Having a unique identifier for 1 person is dangerous. It really is.

US has SS number, UK has NI number, just two examples. How about your mobile 'phone number? That's unique.

MiuraAnjinJune 2  05:46 pm JST

Unfortunately this also explains the push for ETC 2.0 (which transmits location several times a second) and why the Highway Patrol have started removing speed cameras recently; they're soon to be surplus to requirements.

The government says: "ETC 2.0 offers new services using a vehicle’s driving history data, such as GPS information, distance traveled, and acceleration and rapid braking data. This data is sent from ETC 2.0 onboard units to roadside antennas (ITS spots) that are installed every 10–15 kilometers on inter-city highways and every 4 kilometers on urban highways."

It also says: "It is expected that the widespread use of ETC 2.0 will enhance mobility services in Japan, eventually helping to resolve a range of problems faced by society." Clever isn't it.

https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/202103/202103_04_en.html

Yubaru

   My Number does not contain any personal bank details.

> Uhm, you really should check it out. Did you make the card? Did you get the ￥25,000 hand out for making the card? If you got the card AND registered for the cash handouts, your bank information has been shared!

How would the bank get your account detail into the IC chip on the card? I did check it out by visiting many sites and reading up on what is on the card. It's not magic. The iC data is from when the card is made nothing is added later. You are a bit paranoid.

If you received the covid support payments then you gave your bank account details to the city office. Also in our city, we received other payments. Even without the card, the city office needs your bank account for paying taxes and other fees.

I have five bank accounts but use the same one for the local city office. The other four are not known.

When the card is used, like in a hospital staff do not have access to data on the card, only the number.

The IC chip only stores some very basic data.

If you have actual evidence then post it.

My Number card does not trace your movements but a smartphone does.

The is no more info on the card than they already know. IC chip contains only the minimum necessary information

No highly private information on “taxes”, “pensions”, etc. is contained.

In most European countries citizens are to carry ID cards. In Japan, citizens are not required to carry ID. You can leave the My Number card at home in a draw.

When I need to give my ID it was always easy to use my Residents Card. My Japanese spouse always had a problem when she needed ID because other than her passport she didn't have any. She now uses the My Number card for ID when needed.

Scipio

wallaceToday 05:27 pm JST

In most European countries citizens are to carry ID cards.

Not true.

But you are doing a better job of obeying my command to stop with the idiotic rants.

Saturday night troll instead of the bar. Broke again are we?

ID cards may cut queues but learn lessons of history, warn Europeans

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/nov/15/eu.humanrights

National identity cards in the European Economic Area

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_identity_cards_in_the_European_Economic_Area

Which European Countries have identity cards with NFC?

https://www.inverid.com/blog/european-identity-cards

How would the bank get your account detail into the IC chip on the card? I did check it out by visiting many sites and reading up on what is on the card. It's not magic. The iC data is from when the card is made nothing is added later. You are a bit paranoid.

You didnt answer my question did you? Did you get the ￥25,000 for making the My Number card?

I did not specify about the IC chip alone, only that your bank information is connected to your card if you applied for and received the "points"/money for doing so. Information is all over the net about it.

Dont assume "paranoid" either, I asked you a direct question, and you are assuming something I never said either. Where did I state anything about details on the IC chip? (Quick answer) nowhere. But I did state that if the chip is not working, YOU have to pay to have the card replaced, and it will be necessary for the insurance card as well! Also the ic chip affects the functional use of the card, and it's not just for the My Id, but any IC chipped card!

③Get points worth 7,500 yen when registering an account for receiving public funds

About the registration system for public funds receiving accounts …

https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en/

I've done you a favor here:

https://www.digital.go.jp/policies/account_registration/

Yubaru

Like I said there is no bank info on the My Number Card. I also stated I have one bank account for dealing with the local city office so they only have info about that. I have already stated this.

 Individuals without a My Number card will pay more for treatment.

How does this work exactly?

For those enrolled in the National Health Scheme will pay the same charges, 30% or 20%. I pay 20% being retired.