Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care Insurance System｜Registering for Long-Term Care Insurance｜Loss of Qualification｜Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums｜ Long-Term Care Insurance Payments｜Glossary 

Long-Term Care Insurance System

The Long-Term Care Insurance System is intended to support nursing care for senior citizens, so that those in need of care can continue to live an independent lifestyle, and to provide long-term care prevention so that those who are not currently in need of care can do the same in the future. 

Registering for Long-Term Care Insurance

Individuals who are 40 years old or over qualify for coverage under Long-Term Care Insurance if they meet both of the following two criteria:

1. Registered residents of Chiba City
2. Individuals whose period of stay is more than 3 months or individuals whose period of stay is less than 3 months but recognized as exceeding 3 months after a successful extension of the period of stay

Individuals between the ages of 40 and 64 (inclusive) must be covered under health insurance in addition to meeting the aforementioned criteria 1 and 2, in order to qualify for Long-Term Care Insurance (secondary insured). A Long-Term Care Insurance certificate will be issued if the insured individual has been certified as needing care. 

Loss of Qualification

Loss of qualification must be reported, and the insurance certificate must be returned in the event of any of the following:

1.  Upon moving out of Chiba City
   * Those who have been certified as needing care (or support), or are in the process of receiving certification of needing care (or support), may submit the certificate for Chiba City to the local government office of their new residence to transfer the qualification. Please contact the Long-Term Care Insurance Office of the Senior Citizens' and Disabled Persons’ Division at your local Health and Welfare Center.
   * If the reason of the move was to enter a facility outside of Chiba City, please contact the Long-Term Care Insurance Office of the Senior Citizens' and Disabled Persons' Division at your local Health and Welfare Center. The policyholder may still be covered by Chiba City's insurance policy.
2. Upon death of the policyholder
3. Upon leaving the country  

Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums

The Long-Term Care Insurance System is a social insurance system supported by the insurance premium paid by the policyholders.

For those aged 40 to 64 years old (inclusive), Long-Term Care Insurance fees will be included in the premiums for their health insurance.

For those aged 65 years old or older, each individual will be charged a separate fee for Long-Term Care Insurance in addition to health insurance premiums. The amount will depend on factors such as the tax payments of the policyholder and those sharing his or her household.  

Long-Term Care Insurance Payments

In order to use Long-Term Care Insurance services, submit an application to be certified as needing care (or needing support) to the Long-Term Care Insurance Office of the Senior Citizens' and Disabled Persons' Division at your designated local Health and Welfare Center. Secondary insured individuals must be suffering from specified diseases brought on by aging. By being certified as needing care (or needing support), policyholders can receive nursing care while being responsible for 10% of the costs.

1. Application
   Individuals should apply to be certified as needing care (or needing support) at the Long-Term Care Insurance Office at their designated local Health and Welfare Center, by attaching their Long-Term Care Insurance certificate. (Secondary insured individuals will also need to attach their proof of health insurance.)
2. Investigation
   Investigation will be conducted to determine whether the nursing service is necessary. An investigator will visit the household to conduct a physical and mental examination. A written recommendation from the attending physician will also be required. A computer-based judgment will be conducted based on the data gathered (primary judgment).
3. Evaluation and Judgment
   The Certification Committee will determine what kind of nursing services are necessary (secondary judgment). For secondary insured individuals, evaluation and judgment will occur to determine whether they are suffering from specified diseases brought on by aging.
4. Certification
   Based on the results of evaluation and judgment by the committee, the director of the ward office will certify the result and notify applicants.
5. The results of examination and judgment fall under the following categories: Support Levels 1 and 2 and Care Levels 1-5.
   For Support Levels 1 and 2, in-home services are available (facility services are not available).
   For Care Levels 1-5, both in-home services and facility services are available.
6. Formulation of Service Plan
   Appropriate care plans will be prepared for those who applied for the services.

Individuals classified as Support Levels 1 and 2 should apply for the creation of a service plan (or care plan) at the Chiba Anshin Care Center* in their district, or through an in-home service support provider (or care manager) commissioned by that Chiba Anshin Care Center.

Individuals classified as Care Levels 1-5 should consult an in-home service support provider (or care manager) about the creation of a service plan (or care plan).

The Chiba Anshin Care Center is an organization that manages long-term care prevention, with locations in each ward.

For more information, please contact the Long-Term Care Insurance Office of the Senior Citizens’ and Disabled Persons’ Division at your local Health and Welfare Center.

Health and Welfare Center	TEL
Chuo	043-221-2198
Hanamigawa	043-275-6401
Inage	043-284-6242
Midori	043-292-9491
Mihama	043-270-4073
Wakaba	043-233-8264

Glossary

English	Japanese	Romanization
Care Levels 1-5	要介護1～5	youkaigo 1~5
Long-Term Care Insurance certificate	介護保険被保険者証	kaigo hoken hihokenshashou
Long-Term Care Insurance System	介護保険制度	kaigo hoken seido
needing care	要介護	youkaigo
needing support	要支援	youshien
secondary insured	第2号被保険者	dainigou hihokensha
Support Levels 1 and 2	要支援1・2	youshien 1・2

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