A health ministry panel discussing medical fee limits for high-cost treatments has agreed to raise such caps from next summer, to keep the nation¡¯s health care system from caving under a rapidly aging population and to maintain its coverage of advanced medical technology.
In Japan, most people pay 30% of the medical costs they incur at hospitals and clinics; those above the age of 75 pay 10% to 20%. Regardless of this general rule, the high-cost medical expense benefit system (k§à?gaku ry§à?y§à?hi seido) sets a cap on the amount people pay for medical services according to their age and income.
For example, for people with an annual income of ?3.7 million ($23,900) to ?7.7 million, the current cap for copayment is ?87,430 per month if their medical bill for the period is ?1 million. The monthly cap rises to ?97,430 if the bill is ?2 million, and to ?107,430 if the bill is ?3 million.
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