Pension benefit deductions began Tuesday in line with a new health insurance system inaugurated April 1 to cover people aged 75 and older.
Of the 13 million people the new insurance system covers, some 8.32 million who had been covered by national health insurance are subject to the pension deductions.
However, 31 cities, including Yokohama and Saitama, will postpone the deduction from pension benefits until October because their administrative processes have been delayed. Once their residents begin paying the deductions, about 80 percent of the 13 million retirees will be covered by the new system.