Payment and Issues About National Pension and Public Health Insurance for People Who are in Debt

-Basic Research for Learning on the Social Insurance System in Consumer Education-

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to clarify the actual situations and problems of the social insurance system through a survey of people who are in debt, and to examine the introduction of learning about social insurance into future consumer education. The following results were obtained: 1. Because of unstable employment from their first job, only 29. 7% of people who are in debt can pay the national pension premium. As a result, they are very likely not to obtain their pensions in the future. People who do not pay national pension premiums do not know how to reduce their premiums. Knowledge about how to use the national pension system is needed in consumer education. 2. Of people who are in debt, 20% can not pay their public health insurance premium while 14 of the people surveyed are forbidden to use insurance cards. Since 12 out of 14 people have children, they are also excluded from the public health insurance system. 3. Learning about the social insurance system is especially needed for low income families. The next step for future consumer education is to consider what kinds of subjects concerning the social insurance system are taught, who should be targeted, and what methodologies can be concretely implemented.