Japan has officially transitioned to a digital health insurance system, ending the use of traditional paper insurance cards across the country.

This shift represents a major overhaul of the national healthcare administrative system. By integrating insurance data into the My Number Card, the government aims to digitize identity verification and increase the efficiency of administrative procedures [1].

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, paper health insurance cards reached their expiration date at the end of July 2025 [2]. As of August 2025, only the "Myna Insurance Card," the integrated version of the My Number Card, remains valid for medical services [2, 3].

The phase-out began earlier when the government stopped issuing new paper health insurance cards on Dec. 2, 2024 [4]. To prepare for the final deadline, the government tracked adoption rates closely. By April, the utilization rate for the digital cards stood at 68.15% [1].

Digital adoption has varied across different platforms. Data shows that eight million people use the My Number insurance functions via smartphones [5]. However, the total number of Myna Insurance Card holders was reported at 944,300 [5].

The transition is part of a broader push by the Japanese government to modernize public services. The integration allows for a more seamless flow of patient data between providers and reduces the clerical burden on medical facilities [1].

“Paper health insurance cards reached their expiration date at the end of July 2025”

The complete removal of paper insurance cards marks a critical step in Japan's digital transformation. By forcing a total migration to the My Number system, the government is consolidating fragmented administrative data into a single digital identity, which may improve healthcare coordination but risks leaving behind citizens who struggle with digital literacy or lack compatible hardware.