In the aim of supporting you to have a secured and stable livelihood, the social insurance systems have been established to provide you with the medical care benefits and pensions in the event of sickness, injury, childbirth, death, old age and disability. Under the principle of universal coverage, all registered residents of Japan must enroll in one of the appropriate social health care and pension insurance systems.

The main social insurance systems for salaried workers in companies and factories in Japan are the Employees' Health Insurance (KENKO HOKEN) system (one type managed by the Japan Health Insurance Association and the other type managed by health insurance societies) as the health care insurance and the Employees' Pension Insurance (KOSEI NENKIN HOKEN) system as the pension insurance.

As for the self-employed workers and non-employed people, there are the National Health Insurance (KOKUMIN KENKO HOKEN) system and the National Pension (KOKUMIN NENKIN) system.

As the specific work-based insurances, there are the Seamen's Insurance (SENIN HOKEN) system for workers on board a ship, and the mutual aid associations systems for public services workers such as national and local government employees.