Japan speeds up My Number Card Digital Health Insurance

Japan is making fast inroads in digitizing its health insurance system by integrating health coverage with the My Number national ID card. As noted in a recent Meyka blog post, this change may fundamentally alter not only the manner in which Japanese citizens access healthcare but also the way data is managed within the system.

Japan’s push for digital transformation in public services gets a boost from this initiative. Linking health insurance records to a national ID will reduce admin work and improve data accuracy.For patients and practitioners alike, paperwork will be reduced.

Key Elements of the Health Insurance Reform

My Number Card as Health Insurance ID

Under the reform, My Number Card – previously used for taxation and social security – will also serve as a digital health insurance card; this consolidation will make it easier for patients to verify their insurance status at hospitals and clinics.

Also Read: AITRICS Launches Tokyo Office for Digital Health Growth

Broad Utilization and Adoption

According to the Meyka article, as of November 2025, more than 60% of Japan’s population is already utilizing their My Number card in healthcare-related services.

This strong uptake signals growing trust in the system.

Better management and security of data.

With this integration, health and insurance data is centralized and made available instantly. The My Number system involves encryption and centralized data governance, allowing for higher data security.

Administrative Efficiency

With digitized insurance data, medical institutions can lower the volume of manual paperwork. Insurance firms also benefit from quicker claim processing and more reliable data flow.

Wider Implications for Japan’s Tech Industry

This health insurance reform has significant implications for Japan’s technology sector, especially for health tech, insurtech, and data infrastructure businesses.

Boost for Health Tech and Insurtech Startups

By digitizing insurance data, Japan is laying the foundation for more advanced health-tech services. The startups will be able to build upon such infrastructure by developing AI-driven patient risk assessment tools or remote monitoring platforms, among other things, while offering customized insurance products. The My Number card system opens doors for insurtech innovators who rely on real-time quality data.

Digital Infrastructure Strengthened

A national health insurance system using My Number cards needs strong identity checks. It also requires advanced cloud systems and strict data management. This boosts the need for cybersecurity experts, cloud providers, and IT consultancies. These companies need a strong track record in aiding the public sector with digital transformation.

Interoperability Across Public Services

The My Number card’s role in health insurance is one of many pieces in a much more significant digital infrastructure. As public services link more—like taxation, insurance, and social welfare—demand for platforms is rising. These platforms need to allow data interoperability and API orchestration. They also need to ensure secure data sharing across various sectors.

Regulatory and Compliance Innovation

Processing sensitive health and ID data needs strong compliance frameworks. Tech companies in this ecosystem must ensure their platforms meet strict rules. This covers everything from data encryption to user consent tools. That, indeed, offers a strong business case for specialist firms that help implement privacy-by-design solutions.

Business Impact: Who Stands to Gain

Healthcare Providers: My Number–based systems will allow easier and faster patient registration, increased data accuracy, and reduced administrative costs in hospitals and clinics that will adopt the system.

Insurance Companies: Insurtech and traditional insurers can now verify insurance status in real-time. This lets them process claims more efficiently and lowers the risk of fraud.

Government and Public Agencies: The government can cut down on red tape. This speeds up public services while keeping sensitive information secure.

Tech Vendors: Cloud service providers, identity verification experts, and data security firms can secure new contracts. This is relevant for both public institutions and healthcare providers as they adapt to digital changes.

Risks and Challenges to Watch

Public Trust and Privacy Concerns: There have been reports in the past raising concerns about My Number card data security and possible misuse.

Ensuring user trust remains of the highest priority.

Digital Divide: Some citizens, especially the elderly, may not adopt digital technologies easily, thus slowing down the overall rollout process.

System Integration: Integrating legacy health systems-most of which are still paper-based-into a national digital ID framework is complex and resource-intensive.

Security Risks: Centralized data systems can become targets that attract cyber attacks. Robust security and continuous monitoring will be increasingly vital.

Vision Strategy Digitization of health insurance in Japan

With the My Number card is a critical step toward modernizing its healthcare system. This reform improves efficiency and accessibility not only for the patients but also opens up major opportunities across the technology industry.

For technology companies, this is an opportunity to drive innovation in managing health data, secure cloud infrastructure, and insurtech solutions. To public sector and healthcare stakeholders, it offers a way of achieving more efficient, integrated, and user-friendly service delivery. As digital health becomes more woven into the fabric of Japanese society, this may also prove a valuable example for other countries looking to use national ID systems to enable wider digital transformation.