RResidents in Japan

Unemployed and have to pay 80k/month NHI

  • September 4, 2025

I recently quit my work, its a contract work actually and i did not continue my contract because i wanted to take a long rest because i was tired and stressed working and planned to use unemployment benefits as a help to pay my rent and my bills on my resting period.

However, i discovered that after unemployment, its mandatory to apply for National Health Insurance(NHI). And when i was employed, my employer pays half of it with a private Health insurance. And it was only 35k/month.

Now, i developed really bad skin allergies after my 1.5 month overseas trip after quitting my work, and its spreading in my whole body like crazy and im itching so much even though i am taking Allegra Fx. So i applied for National Health Insurance. However, i am shocked that i have to pay 80k/month.

Now, there is a 50/50 chance i can only pay 30% which is good. But it depends on the HelloWork judgement for me. If the company laid you off, or the company ended your contract, you can get those reduction. But if its voluntary reason, you cannot. But i hope the mental harassment at work can be an excuse for me to get the 70% reduction because, dang. I do not have any income anymore and i also travelled for more than a month and spend a lot of money. ;( So now, i am just using my not so high savings to live by, because the unemployment benefits i will get will only be paid for the NHI, plus the residence tax. My residence is so high. I just paid 115k this September 1. And i have to pay the same amount again on October 31. Will try to check tomorrow if i can get a reduction.

TLDR:

So sad that being unemployed here in Japan costs you more government expenses than if you are employed. For people like me who thought that quitting jobs and just relying on unemployment benefits to rest, well, you have to pay the whole amount of health insurance now. Plus your pension contribution will be also reduced. Plus paying residence tax.

Anyway, is the 80k/month NHI too high?

Any tips for someone who experienced the same on how to reduce this amount with voluntary contract end, due to mental stress?

Thank you so much for your help.

Update:

I was aware i need to pay for NHI, but did not realize that i have to pay this much. Like i was paying 35k monthly when i have a job. Now i have to pay 80k monthly without a job?! Cruel. Need reduction request here ;(

by Responsible-Frame659

8 comments

  1. I’ve been working through this same situation with my daughter the last few months.

    Did you visit a doctor about your work stress at all before quitting? If so you may be able to get more support from Hello Work than if you are registered as quitting for generic reasons – I don’t know the details of this because unfortunately my daughter didn’t, but if you can show record of that it might be possible to proceed slightly differently, registering as having quit for health reasons. (Big maybe here though, I just know we keep being asked about this and the social worker advised seeing a doctor first next time).

    You should be able to apply to pause your pension payments.

    I don’t understand the timing on this one (only that we didn’t do it quite as efficiently as we ought) but you may be able to reduce your future health insurance payments. It took us two trips to city hall but what we needed was the salary payment slips from the months that my daughter worked this year, and the gensen something paper that showed the total amount she had been paid by her former company for the year.

    I don’t think you can reduce your residents tax (if you find out otherwise please share!); I asked about that today. One helpful clerk said to call if it’s impossible to make the payment, but I get the impression that’s for an extension or payment plan or something not a reduction.

  2. Ima b dead straight with ya It’s not too high. That’s how the system works here, and honestly, before you quit your job you should’ve done a quick Google search or even asked ChatGPT this isn’t hidden information. Do you have Japanese friends or talk with locals? Most people know that once you’re not under company insurance, you’re on the hook for the full National Health Insurance, and yes, it’s expensive. That’s the price of contributing to society everyone pays in so the system can stay fair and sustainable. That’s part of living here and why the healthcare system functions the way it does.Also if it helps premiums are based on last years employment

  3. 80k is about what I pay as my employer is not based in Japan so I pay out of my own pocket. What I pay is based on last year’s income. You may try to talk to the city and explain you are now unemployed and if there is any lowering of the fees because of this.

  4. Its based on your previous tax-year, so it will go down after a year of unemployment since your salary would be 0.

    Cant say its particulary expensive since it shouldnt come as a shock that you need to keep paying (unless of course you have no plan and just quit on a whim without researching what needs to be done/what will happen).

    Considering you’d have had to have a salary over 9M yen to reach that monthly payment, 80k a month is something you def should’ve been able to save.

  5. Its based on your previous tax-year, so it will go down after a year of unemployment since your salary would be 0.

    Cant say its particulary expensive since it shouldnt come as a shock that you need to keep paying (unless of course you have no plan and just quit on a whim without researching what needs to be done/what will happen).

    Considering you’d have had to have a salary over 9M yen to reach that monthly payment, 80k a month is something you def should’ve been able to save.

  7. You voluntarily quit your job, took a six week trip overseas, spent a load of money, expected the tax payer to pay your bills and rent for you while you did this, and are now crying that you have to pay into the national insurance system? I hope you get stung for the full amount.

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