The government and Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition agreed Wednesday to raise medical costs for the elderly in two stages, starting in 2006.
The plan to slow down snowballing health-care costs includes an already scheduled 10 percent increase in medical bills for people 70 years and older with annual incomes of 6.21 million yen or more. Those people will see an increase to 30 percent from 20 percent in their medical costs beginning next October. That income bracket will change in 2008 to 5.20 million yen and over.
Wednesday's proposal goes further, stating that people aged 70 to 74 who have incomes of 5.20 million yen and under would see a rise to 20 percent from 10 percent in their medical bills beginning in fiscal 2008.