The government has launched a nationwide probe into allegations that foreign residents are abusing the public health insurance system, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is checking with municipalities to investigate cases involving foreign visitors who inappropriately acquired residential status to make themselves eligible for public health insurance so they can skirt costly medical fees, the sources said.
The ministry will compile the findings this autumn and discuss prevention steps. The insurance system was not originally designed to take into account a time when foreign people would be receiving medical services.