Reflecting financial income in nursing care burden ratio to ensure fairness - Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare study

On the 26th, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare began considering incorporating financial income into the calculation of co-payment rates when using nursing care services for elderly people aged 65 and over. The aim is for local governments to keep track of stock dividends and capital gains, and to require them to pay a fair share according to their income. This will be discussed in a subcommittee of the Social Security Council (an advisory body to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare), and a direction will be finalized by the end of the year.

Medical reform for the elderly is on track to end at the end of the year, but increasing burden on counters will inevitably lead to difficulties

The copayment ratio and insurance premiums when using long-term care insurance services are determined according to income. In principle, the co-payment is 10%, but increases to 20% or 30% if your income exceeds a certain threshold. Under the current system, even elderly people with financial income have been criticized as being unfair because unless they choose to file a final tax return during the taxation process, local governments cannot grasp this and the tax is not reflected in their co-payments.

Starting in August 2029, the medical care system for the elderly aged 75 and older will include a system that will reflect financial income in calculating co-payments and insurance premiums. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will consider whether a similar system could be extended to nursing care insurance. The plan is to reach a certain conclusion by the end of this year, with consideration given to revisions to the Nursing Care Insurance Act.