The health ministry has decided to reduce medical support for people infected with COVID-19 starting in October, as part of a broader plan to return the health care system to normal by next spring.
Even after the downgrade of the legal status of COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal flu in May, the government has maintained some of its support to prevent sudden increases in medical expenses for the public.
Based on the decision Friday, the support for hospitalization will be halved to ¥10,000 ($68), which will be deducted from the maximum amount of personal payment, and people will have to pay up to ¥9,000 for expensive antiviral drugs out of pocket, with the specific amount to be determined based on their incomes.