PayPay Insurance Influenza Insurance service page:
https://www.paypay-insurance.co.jp/promotion/influenza/app/
PayPay Insurance Service Corporation (hereinafter “PayPay Insurance Service”), a group company of LY Corporation (hereinafter “LY”), will start offering the 2026 installation of the Influenza Insurance on October 5—the earliest start date in its history—which will be available through the PayPay Insurance mini app*1 within the PayPay cashless payment service provided by PayPay Corporation (hereinafter “PayPay”). In response to the earlier onset of the flu season compared to last year, the launch date has been moved forward by approximately 10 days to help users prepare sooner.
Policyholders from last year can apply the newly introduced Repeat Discount*2 to receive a 10-yen discount on all premium plans, bringing the starting price down to 240 yen per month. Furthermore, a new benefit has been introduced. In addition to the standard PayPay Points granted when paying insurance premiums with PayPay, policyholders will now receive an extra 1% of their premium in PayPay Points, provided directly by the underwriting insurance company. Users can easily apply directly through the PayPay app, making it a hassle-free way to prepare for treatment and hospitalization expenses incurred if they catch the flu.
During last year’s early flu outbreak, the Policy was purchased over 80,000 times, bringing the cumulative number of policy purchases past 224,000.*3
*1. A feature that allows users to smoothly make reservations, order products, and purchase services provided by PayPay’s partner companies from the PayPay app.
*2. If a user applies for Influenza Insurance with the same PayPay account as last year, the discount will be automatically applied.
*3. As of October 5, 2026.
In recent years, influenza outbreaks in Japan have shifted to earlier periods. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of reported cases per designated medical site nationwide reached 1.11 between August 17 and August 23, 2026, crossing the threshold of 1.00 that indicates the start of an epidemic. Entering an epidemic season in August marks the second earliest onset since the Infectious Diseases Prevention Act was enacted in 1999. The timing this year is second only to 2009 and is approximately one month earlier than the previous year.*4
Additionally, while flu season typically occurs from June to September in the Southern Hemisphere, it circulates year-round in tropical and subtropical regions.*5 As international travel continues to revitalize, there is a heightened possibility of influenza spreading earlier than traditional seasonal norms within Japan.
In light of these earlier outbreaks, preparing for infection has become necessary even before full-scale influenza vaccinations begin. To enable earlier preparation, PayPay Insurance Service moved its start date forward, offering the Policy on October 5, which is the earliest launch date in the history of PayPay Insurance.
If a policyholder contracts type A or B influenza during the period of insurance and is prescribed anti-influenza medication at a hospital or other medical institution, benefits to cover the medical expenses will be provided. In addition, hospitalization expenses will be covered if the policyholder begins a hospitalization of two consecutive days or more (one night and two days) for the purpose of influenza treatment.
Catching the flu can lead to various incidental out-of-pocket expenses beyond medical bills, such as transportation to clinics and home delivery of meals or daily essentials during recovery. If a family member falls ill, non-financial burdens, such as adjusting schedules for caretaking, must also be managed. The Policy offers three tailored plans to suit individual needs, and users can include their entire family in a single application. Because every step from application to filing claims can be completed seamlessly within the PayPay app, users can easily set up a safeguard against unexpected expenses arising from flu infection.
*4. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “August 28, 2026, Influenza Outbreak Status.”
*5. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “FY2024 Influenza Q&A.”
Originally launched in January 2023 as Japan’s first insurance product dedicated to influenza,*6 the Policy has been well received by users, surpassing 224,000 cumulative purchases. Demographic trends show that policyholders in their 30s to 50s frequently purchase the Policy together as couples or families, and across all age groups, over 70% of users select the Safety Plan, which provides the maximum treatment benefit of 7,000 yen.
*6. Researched by Aiaru syougakutankihoken Corporation.
PayPay Insurance Service will continue to help users by providing high-quality insurance products and easy-to-use services to make insurance even more accessible.
■ Influenza Insurance Details
Period of availability and coverage
<Period of availability>
From October 05, 2026, to March 22, 2027
<Coverage period>
From October 15, 2026, to April 30, 2027
Guarantees (reasons for payment)
<Medical expenses>
When policyholder contracts influenza A or B during the period of insurance and is prescribed anti-influenza medication at a hospital or other medical institution
<Hospitalization expenses>
During the coverage period, the policyholder suffers from symptoms of influenza A or B and is hospitalized for two or more consecutive days (one night and two days) for the purpose of treatment.
*The benefits can only be paid out twice.
*Limited to medical institutions in Japan.
Plans (premium and coverage amount)
Three plans are available: Easy Plan, Basic Plan, and Safety Plan, allowing users to choose according to their needs.
*With the Repeat Discount applied, a 10-yen discount is subtracted from all plan premiums. This discount applies to users who were policyholders between October 16, 2025, and March 22, 2026.
Other characteristics
<Easy to apply>
The purchase can be easily made through the PayPay app and the premium is also paid within the PayPay app. If the user’s identity is verified on “PayPay,” the user does not need to enter their name or other information to apply. Family members also can be included in a single application.
<Easy to file a claim>
Users can file a claim by uploading photos of medical receipts, clinical statements, pharmacy receipts, or dispensing statements directly through the PayPay app.
The insurance money will be transferred to the bank account designated by the insured.
<Earn PayPay Points*>
In addition to the standard PayPay Points granted when paying premiums via PayPay, policyholders receive an additional 1% of the paid premium amount in PayPay Points funded by the underwriting insurer.
*Earned PayPay Points can be used at PayPay merchants at a rate of 1 point = 1 yen. They cannot be cashed out or transferred.
User interface
Users can complete the purchase of an insurance policy with simple steps all within the PayPay app.
The Influenza Insurance will be provided by PayPay Insurance Services as the insurance agent and Aiaru syougakutankihoken Corporation (President: Katsuyuki Ando), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Life, as the underwriting insurance company.
For more information on the Influenza Insurance, please click on the link below.
https://www.paypay-insurance.co.jp/promotion/influenza/app/
*Company names, trade names, and products/services in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.
