ASOURCE Navi

The use of the My Number Card as a health insurance card started in October 2012, and medical institutions have been obliged to use it since April this year. It seems that there are cases where medical institution counter staff are busy responding to confusion or errors. Therefore, we will summarize how to use the Minor Health Insurance Card at reception at hospitals and pharmacies.

Mina health insurance cards can be used at medical institutions and pharmacies that have a "mina reception" sticker or poster. As of April 9, about 68% of the medical institutions and pharmacies nationwide that are obliged to introduce minor receptions are obliged to introduce them, and the list is published on the website of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. (https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/index_16743.html)

If you go to a hospital or pharmacy that accepts your My Number card as your health insurance card, first insert your My Number card into the machine vertically or horizontally according to the model of the card reader at the reception. If you have a cover on your My Number Card, remove it. In the case of a card reader with face recognition, identification will be performed by face recognition or entering the PIN (4-digit number) of the My Number card, so select either one.

For face recognition, select "Perform face recognition" and bring your face closer to the frame of the card reader's camera. Then, the face photo data of the My Number card is read from the IC chip and compared with the photographed face photo. In the case of face recognition, it is possible to authenticate even if you are wearing a mask, glasses, or a hat. If facial recognition does not work, you can also verify your identity with your PIN. In the case of children, face recognition is also possible, but it is also possible to verify the identity of the child by entering a PIN code by a parent or proxy. Also, visual confirmation by the staff at the counter is OK.

On the other hand, if you select "Enter PIN", enter a 4-digit number. Even if a general-purpose IC card reader is installed at the reception, your identity will be verified by entering your 4-digit PIN. If it is difficult to enter your PIN, the staff at the counter can visually confirm your identity. Your identity verification information will not be used for any other purpose.

After authentication, the acceptance will be completed when you confirm your consent to view drug information and medical checkup information at the end. There is no need to leave your My Number card at the reception staff like you used to with your health insurance card. Therefore, your personal number will not be known to others.

By utilizing the minor health insurance card, hospitals and pharmacies will be able to view past prescription and dispensing data of patients, which is expected to have the effect of avoiding duplicate medications and concomitant contraindications. In addition, patients can view medical information at medical institutions and drug prescriptions at pharmacies from Mynaportal, which can be useful for self-management.

In the fall of 2024, the current health insurance card will be abolished and a policy will be announced to integrate it with the My Number Card. As a matter of fact, the acquisition of My Number Card is becoming “mandatory”. As of April 9, about 77% of people have a My Number card, and about 67% have a minor health insurance card linked to their health insurance card.