TOKYO: Japan’s health ministry said Wednesday that a system to use My Number social security and taxation identification cards as an alternative to public health insurance cards will begin in full on Oct. 20.

My Number card holders will also be able to check their prescription records and the results of health checkups covered by public health insurance through the government’s Mynaportal website for cardholders.

The ministry delayed the start of the system after facing a series of problems in tests it conducted in March.

As of Sept. 12, My Number cards could be used as health insurance cards on a trial basis at 3,502 medical institutions and pharmacies.

The number of medical institutions and pharmacies taking My Number cards as health insurance cards will increase to some 13,000, or 5 pct of the total, by the full-fledged start of the system, according to the ministry.

Beginning in November, My Number card holders will be able to browse detailed statements of their medical bills. In the future, the My Number system will be used to simplify procedures for medical expense deductions in income tax return. 

JIJI Press