紙の健康保険証が終了、「マイナ保険証」へ完全移行

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is August second. As of yesterday, Japan's old paper health insurance cards can no longer be used at hospitals — the country has fully switched to a digital insurance card built into the national ID card. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

Since yesterday, August first, the insurance card used at hospitals and pharmacies has fully switched to the digital version built into the national ID card.

It means a transition — moving from an old system to a new one.

After that, as a special measure, people could still use expired cards, but that measure ended on July thirty-first.

It means a measure or step taken by the government.

From August first, you need either the digital insurance card or a paper document that certifies your eligibility.

It means documents or papers.

That certificate is sent free of charge, with no application needed, to people who don't have the digital card.

It means an application or formal request.

According to the health ministry, about ninety-four point nine million people had registered by the end of June.

It means registration.

With the digital card, doctors and pharmacists can see your past medications and health checkup records, which the government says leads to better treatment.

It means medical treatment.

If you go to a hospital without either one, as a rule you must first pay the full medical cost yourself.

It means a principle — in the news it is used like the phrase 'as a rule'.

The health minister is urging everyone to check that they have the digital card or the certificate at hand.

It means to call on people or appeal to them to do something.

With such a big change to the system, people are watching whether confusion will occur at hospital reception counters.

It means confusion or disorder.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

The eligibility confirmation certificate — a document sent free of charge to people without the digital card.

Sixty-eight point five percent.

That's all for today. As of August first, Japan's paper health insurance cards are gone for good. At the hospital you now need the digital insurance card or the eligibility certificate, and people with neither must pay the full cost up front. Only about sixty-eight percent of patients were actually using the digital card in May, so the government is urging everyone to check what they have before they get sick. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.