Tokio Marine & Nichido launches end-of-life support insurance for elderly people without relatives nationwide

Starting in August, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. began rolling out insurance nationwide to support services that allow elderly people without relatives to leave their end-of-life care to them with peace of mind without having to prepare a deposit.

Generally, large deposits are required for single elderly people to receive ``lifetime support services'' in case they become ill or die alone, but the aim is to make it easier to receive services by using an insurance system.

Since last fall, Tokio Marine has been introducing this system on a trial basis in partnership with the Chita Regional Rights Protection and Support Center, which supports elderly people living alone in four cities and five towns (Handa City, Tokoname City, Tokai City, etc.) on the Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture.

The center operates a ``Life Anshin Support Project'' for single middle-aged and elderly residents. The basic plan promises regular monitoring and support for hospitalization and institutionalization, as well as cremation after death.

Users do not need to pay a deposit when joining, but instead pay the center a monthly usage fee set by age and gender. Anyone over the age of 40 can enroll, and if you sign up between the ages of 60 and 74, the monthly premium will be around 1,000 yen for life. Optionally, services such as cremation and funeral arrangements can be added.

Meanwhile, the center signs an insurance contract with Tokio Marine. When a user dies, the center bills Tokio Marine for the actual costs of cremation and other expenses as insurance money.

For users between the ages of 60 and 74 who sign up for the service, the insurance premiums paid by the center to Tokio Marine per person start at around 1,000 yen per month for life (depending on gender and payment limit).

Tokio Marine is rolling out this system nationwide. In collaboration with the National Rights Defense Support Network, a general incorporated association, we have made it possible to conclude insurance contracts with over 180 member businesses. According to a Tokio Marine official, the company is exchanging opinions with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and social welfare councils across the country with a view to expanding the service.

The number of households with elderly people living alone due to being single, divorced, widowed, etc. will reach 9.33 million (in 2025). There is a growing need for ``whole life support services,'' in which people can be entrusted with end-of-life care, including post-death procedures, and there are over 400 providers, with between 60,000 and 100,000 people using these services.

On the other hand, troubles related to large deposits continue to occur. Two years ago, a woman in her 70s living alone in the southern Kanto region with no family to rely on signed a contract with a private lifelong support service because she was worried about her future. A total of 1.5 million yen was paid for membership fees, annual membership fees, support for hospitalization procedures, and deposits for posthumous administrative contracts. When he requested cancellation this year, he was refused a refund of 500,000 yen.