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Acquisition and Forfeiture of Membership |
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1Acquisition of Membership
| When hired as a national public servant, an employee of an Independent Administrative Institute, or an employee of the Mutual Aid Association, an individual automatically becomes a dues-paying member of the Mutual Aid Association as of the date of hire, regardless of his or her intention, and must pay insurance premiums. At the same time, the member can receive various benefits provided by the Mutual Aid Association. |
2Forfeiture of Membership
In cases such as retirement or death, membership is forfeited on the day following the event. However, members who choose “(5) Voluntarily-continuing insurance member” type membership may continue membership for a specified duration as designated members of the original Mutual Aid Association following retirement, if they so desire.
Note: “Retirement” means that a person defined as an “employee” in Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the National Public Officers Mutual Aid Association Act ceases to be such an employee for reasons other than death (e.g., if designated working hours per week fall below 20 hours).
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Types of Members |
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1Long-term members
| Long-term members are eligible for short-term benefits, long-term benefits, and welfare services. In the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Mutual Aid Association, this type includes full-time employees of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Japan Sports Agency, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, National University Corporations, Inter-University Research Institute Corporations, Independent Administrative Institutes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Mutual Aid Association. |
2Short-term members
Short-term members are eligible only for short-term benefits and welfare services. This type includes the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Senior Vice Ministers of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Parliamentary Secretaries for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and part-time employees of the organizations listed under (1) above who meet certain conditions (e.g., working minimum 20 hours per week).
Since these individuals are not eligible for long-term benefits, they are enrolled in the Employees’ Pension Insurance as Category 1 insured persons. |
3Mariner members
| Mariner members are ship crew members who are insured persons under the Mariners Insurance Act. |
4Continuing Long-Term Insurance Members
| If a member, upon request from an officer with appointing authority or someone who has been delegated the appointing authority from the officer, retires in order to become an executive or employee of an institution such as a government-affiliated financial corporation, the member is not considered to have retired as far as the application of the rules regarding the long-term benefits, and will keep his/her membership. |
| Membership Is Forfeited When... |
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| (1) |
Five years has passed since the change of positions. |
| (2) |
The member vacates the position of an executive or employee of an institution such as a government-affiliated financial corporation. |
| (3) |
The member dies. |
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5Voluntarily-Continuing Insurance Members
If an individual who has been a member continuously for a year or longer until the day before retirement desires to continue to receive short-term benefits and welfare services beyond retirement, he/she can become a voluntarily-continuing insurance member for up to two years, as long as the application is filed within 20 days following the retirement date and the premium is paid.
Absence benefits, loan services, savings account services, and group permanent benefits do not apply in this case (some other services may not be available).
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| Membership Is Forfeited When... |
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| (1) |
Two years has passed since the member became a voluntarily-continuing insurance member. |
| (2) |
The member dies. |
| (3) |
The premium for the voluntarily-continuing insurance has not been paid by the due date. |
| (4) |
The member becomes a member of another Mutual Aid Association, or becomes insured by another health insurance. |
| (5) |
The last date of the month in which the Association receives notice of the member’s intention to discontinue his/her status as a voluntarily-continuing insurance member. |
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