renewing visa and pay retroactive social insurance

[quote] Major Changes are planned from April 2010 The Immigration Bureau will be including a check on health insurance enrollment as part of the visa renewal process from April 2010. According to the guidelines posted on the Immigration website, you will be required to present proof of enrollment "social insurance". http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/nyukan70.html What exactly does this mean for foreign residents? If you are forced to enroll in the city health insurance scheme will enrollment in the pension scheme also be enforced? Will people be forced to back enroll? Will those that already hold visas that do not need renewal (such as permanent residency) be exempt? Or will proof of enrollment be required for re-entry permits? [/quote] ============================ Hey guys, This is not good news. Having health insurance is, but believe me, the government will plow us on this one. Last month, they visited my flat (on a Sunday!) to tell me that I owed the government 360000 in back insurance. I informed them that: A ) I had never received a health card B ) I went without a lot of health care I would have utilised if I'd had one. I didn't go to dentists or even doctors unless I was dying because I didn't have insurance. Turns out I was accumulating insurance premiums but didn't even have insurance!!! So, I went 18 months without insurance, and now city hall is telling me I owe them for those 18 months, calculated at the rate I got paid at when I was gainfully employed. The condescending nature of the visit ("This is not Australia, this is Japan" - really?!?) followed by the threats to sue me or seize my assets I laughed off at first, because I have nothing they can get their hands on (thank you NAB!), but then realized I'm married and her assets may be at risk as well (not sure about that but obviously a concern). Where am I at now? I guess I need to pay, regardless. I asked them if I could pay over time, they gave me six months. You do the math (its more than my rent). Bottom line: Insurance is great to have, 20000 a month is a fair price for insurance, all employers should provide it from day 1, I should have done my research and enrolled and received my card earlier, BUT if they go after all of us retroactive to shore up their budget so they can pay for their budget deficit, bend over mate... I already am.