Health insurance society

A corporation that runs the health insurance of the insured persons who are its members; it and the Japan Health Insurance Association (全国健康保険協会) are the two insurers of health insurance (Health Insurance Act, Articles 4, 6 and 9). It is made up of the employers of the workplaces it covers, the insured persons they employ and its insured persons with optional and continued coverage (Article 8). An employer that regularly employs at least the number of insured persons a Cabinet Order (政令) sets, or employers that reach that number together, may set one up: they draw up its constitution (規約) with the consent of at least half of the insured persons at each workplace concerned, and obtain the authorization of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (Articles 11 and 12).