Deciding which
I have lived in Japan and worked for the same company for six years. During this time the company has provided health insurance and paid all of the premiums. However, I will soon leave the company and thus lose my coverage.
I was planning on joining the national health insurance plan via my wife (a Japanese citizen). When I went to my local city hall, I was told that I could join the national plan without paying any dues, all I had to do was obtain a loss of insurance letter from my company.
However, the company would not provide me with one. Are they required to? Upon further investigation, the company provided me with insurance. But, it was basic traveler's insurance (a succession of one-year contracts). Even though the company paid all of the premiums and cost, I was told by city hall that this is not considered "proper" or "acceptable" insurance, meaning that now I have to pay two years worth of premiums before I can join the national plan.