This health and pension scheme is known as Shigaku Kyosai and as you can see from the chart below, it offers increased protection.
Compare this to the Kokumin Kenko Hoken/Nenkin (National Health/Pension Insurance) offered through your city office and you’ll see why the General Union demands full enrolment of university and private school teachers in Shigaku Kyosai.
| Shakai Hoken | Shigaku Kyosai |
| HEALTH INSURANCE | |
| Medical, drug, and dental costs. | |
| 70% of medical costs are covered for you and your dependants. | |
| 80% of medical costs for dependant children under three years old. | 80% of medical costs for dependant children under six years old. |
| Injury or sickness resulting in a loss of wages | |
| Covers lost wages due to injury or illness for up to one and a half years. This is not available under Kokumin Kenko Hoken. | |
| About two-thirds of lost wages covered | 80% of lost wages covered. |
| Childbirth | |
| Lump sum payment to help with the costs of childbirth. | |
| 350,000yen for the birth of each child (may be up to 380,000yen in some cases). | 400,000yen for the birth of each child. May be paid directly to medical institution. |
| Maternity Benefits | |
| You are eligible for coverage of your wages for 42 days prior to birth and 56 days after the birth. This is not available under Kokumin Kenko Hoken. | |
| Approximately 60% of your wages are covered. | 80% of your wages are covered. |
| Death Benefits | |
| A lump sum of 50,000yen will be paid to the person taking care of the funeral arrange-ments. | |
| PENSION INSURANCE | |
| Pension Payments | |
| Basically both plans will pay a pension after 25 years of enrollment, which is the often cited number. Twenty five years though is not simply 25 years (see the article on Kara Kikan). Pension amounts vary depending on your period of enrollment, when you were en-rolled and when you were born. | |
| Death | |
| A survivor’s pension is paid to surviving dependents. | |
| Disability | |
| If you are unable to work due to disability, you will receive an allowance. | |
| DETAILED INFORMATION | |
| Both systems are more complicated than what will fit into a small chart. This information covers some of the major points (subject to change). Visit the online resources for more information or call the union to learn how to win Shakai Hoken in your workplace. Shigaku Kyosai: http://www.shigakukyosai.jp/en/about/index.html Shakai Hoken: http://www.sia.go.jp/e/index.html | |