Neither the principles nor the framework of the government-proposed nursing-care insurance system have been altered, Health and Welfare Minister Yuya Niwa asserted Wednesday.
Niwa was responding to a question raised by Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Makiko Tanaka during a Health and Welfare Committee session at the Lower House.
The government last week decided that the collection of premiums from people aged 65 and over will be frozen for six months after the system takes effect next April.
It also announced that the premiums will be halved for another year after that.
Criticizing the government's plan, Tanaka said the insurance premiums and benefits must be dealt with as part of one package.
On measures to finance the system, Niwa reiterated the government's need to issue deficit-covering bonds.
It is expected to cost the government nearly 1 trillion yen to implement the proposed system, which is aimed at easing the cost of elderly care for the public.
Health and Welfare Ministry officials told the same committee session that some of the funds needed to carry out the measures must be allocated in the second supplementary budget, which is to be compiled later this year.